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Hon. John D. Long 



A HISTORY 



OF 



BUCK FIELD 

OXFORD COUNTY, MAINE 
FROM THE 

EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS TO THE 
CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1900 



BY 

ALFRED COLE 

// 

Member of the Maine Historical Society 
AND 

CHARLES F. WHITMAN 

Clerk of Courts of Oxford County 



" We will review the deeds of our fathers." — EMERSON 



BUCKFIELD, MAINE 
1915 






Copyrighted 1915 
C. F. WHITMAN 



The paper for this book was kindUi donated bij the Maine Coated Paper Co. 

of Ruin'ford, Maine 

As a tribute to Hon. George D. Bisbee 



The Journal Printshop, Lewiston, Maine 



NOV 16 1915 



J)CI.A420085 



PREFACE 



More than twenty-five years ago, one of the authors of this work, Mr. 
Alfred Cole, began collecting material for a History of Buckfield. The 
other, Mr. C. F. Whitman, began his collections five years ago. Each 
worked independently of the other, until, the health of Mr. Cole becom- 
ing impaired, he sent for Mr. Whitman early last year and proposed that 
the histor}- be completed by their joint efi'orts. This was assented to. 
Each had material which was essential for a full and complete history- of 
the town, and each was more interested in producing a work worthy of 
his native town than in obtaining credit for being its author. From that 
time, the work has been prosecuted vigorously and harmoniously. We 
have brought to the task a sincere regard for fact and truth. 

The records of the town and those in the county offices at Paris have 
been thoroughly searched, and also the early records of Cumberland 
County, of which Buckfield was once a part, and the archives at the 
State Houses in Boston and Augusta. 

The traditional portion of this work is many fold richer and more 
complete than that of any other town history with which we are 
acquainted. The chief credit for this is due to Dr. A. C. Whitman, who, 
about a dozen years ago, interviewed all the oldest people in the town 
and took down their statements. Among these aged people, were Elias 
Taylor, a grandson of Samuel Taylor, born in 1796; Mrs. Arvilla Record, 
a granddaughter of Benjamin Spaulding, bom in 1803; Briggs Record, a 
grandson of Jonathan Record, and Susan Leonard. 

The authors are descended from Revolutionay soldiers and from two 
of the very first settlers of the town, and are connected with a great 
many of the families which have lived here. We have had no disposi- 
tion to exalt their virtues and abilities over others. We have a sincere 
admiration for all the old families and those who have contributed to 
make our native town one of the very best upon the face of all the earth. 
We confidently hope that this book will meet with the hearty approbation 
of every son and daughter of Buckfield, into whose hands it may fall. 

Buckfield, June, 1902. 

Alfred Cole. 

C. F. Whitman. 




O ^ i-J= 



a -^ ^ — 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 
Introduction 

Location — Ponds and Strtanis — Surface — Soil — Scenery. 

CHAPTER 11. 
Perspective 
Summary of existing conditions — Extent of English settlements — 
Law relating to settlements on the public lands — Law modified, giving 
settlers 100 acres of land and not in force after Jan. 1, 1784. 



CHAPTER III. 

Early Settlement 

Hunting party's visit to the region — Benjamin Spaulding already 
located here in a hunter's camp — Coming of first two families in early 
part of 1777, followed by 3d family later in the season — -Location of 
their lots — Traditional story of early settlement — First years's experi- 
ence of hardships and suffering — Coming of other settlers in 1778, 1779 
and 1780. 

CHAPTER IV. 
Early Settlement Continued 
Pioneers in the eastern and southern parts of the township — Who 
they were and where they came from — Traditions relating to their ex- 
periences — First marriage in the little settlement — Stories of later 
comings. 

CHAPTER V. 

Pioneer Iiife 

Manner of living in the early day.s — State of society — Customs and 
habits of the early settlers — Diary kept for about a year by a pioneer — 
Construction of habitations and rooms — Utensils and furniture used — 
Bridle paths and roads. 

CHAPTER VT. 

Purchase of Township 

Efforts to buy the land — Signers of the petition to the General Court 
— First fails, second petition succeeds — Provisions in deed and names of 
settlers secured in their possession of 100 acres of land — How their lots 
were laid out and they obtained their deeds. 



6 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER Vll. 
Proprietors' Becords 
Officers of the proprietary— How the business was transacted and 
the records kept— Not finally closed up till 25 years after purchase. 

CHAPTER Viri. 
I>ater Traditional History 
Survey of township — Coming of David Farrar and family — An ad- 
venture with a bear and a romantic meeting- of Judith Farrar and 
Thomas Lowell — Coming of William Harlow and other settlers in the 
northwestern part of the town. 

CHAPTER IX. 

French and Indian War Soldiers 

Settlers who had served in that war— Some had resided for several 
years m the block-houses of Gorham and AVindham— The attack on the 
Windham block-house— The killing of Ezra Brown and fall of the Indian 
chief, Poland — Brown's widow marries Eleazer Chase. 

CHAPTER X. 

Revolutionary Soldiers 

Thirty-one of the settlers before Jan. 1, 1784, served in the war for 

American Independence — Seventy others, survivors of the contest, were 

afterwards residents in Buckfleld — Whom they were and where they 

served. 

CHAPTER XI. 

War of 1812 

Three companies from Buckfleld, besides many other citizens en- 
listing in other commands, served in that war— Roll of the three com- 
panies — Action of the town opposing attitude of the Commonwealth. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Early Buckfield Villag-e 

First settler, Benjamin Spaulding— Edmund Chandler erected first 
mills— Dominicus Record exchanging lots with Spaulding became half 
owner of the mills and water privilege. Soon became sole owner — Place 
first called Record's Mills, afterwards Buckfleld Mills— Joel Foster first 
inn-keeper and tanner— Coming of Dr. Wm. Bridgham— Post Office estab- 
lished in isno — The establishment of industries — First lawyers. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Early Educational History 
Provision of the State for schools — Efforts to provide education for 
the children of the early settlers — Prominent citizens interested — 
Teachers of note — Schoolhouses and school districts — Lack of super- 
vision. 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Incorporation of Town and First Meeting- 
Petition for incorporation — Favorable action by the General Court — 
First town meeting — Officers elected — Appropriations made — Votes for 
Governor, etc. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 7 

CHAPTER XV. 
Boundary Difficulties 
Proprietors claim a sirip of land out of Uutterfleld — Hebron claims 
a tract from southern part of the town — General Court orders a re- 
survey — The boundaries established and matter settled. 



CHAPTER X\'I. 
Buckfield Villag-e About; 1825 

Location of principal stores and residences — Streets and roads — 
Traders and business men. 

CHAPTER X\1I. 
Annals from 1795 to 1825 
Town ineetin.?s — Occurrences of note — Roads laid out — Appropria- 
tions made — Votes cast for President. Governor and other officers — 
Deaths of Dominicus Record and Benjamin Spaulding. 

CHAPTER XVI 11. 
Cliurcli History 
Ministerial lands— First preaching— Baptist society of Turner and 
Bucktown— First Baptist Church— Elder Nathaniel Chase— Second Bap- 
tist Church— Present Baptist Church— Rev. Albion K. P. Small and other 
pastors. 

CHAPTER XI.X. 
Churcli History Continued 

Union Chapel Society— Universalists— Federal Meeting House- Free 
Baptists, Rev. Levi Hersey — Methodists, Episcopal Mission. 

CHAPTER XX. 
Biog'raphical Sketches 

Sketches of prominent men, John D. Long. Zadoc Long, Seba Smith, 
Prentiss Cummings. F. O .J. Smith. Rear Admiral Thos. S. Phelps. Colum- 
bia Gardner, Rev. Eleanor B. Forbes. Hermon C. Bumpus, LL.D., Albion 
A\'. Small. LL.D., and others. 



CHART i:R XXI. 
Poets of Buckfield 

Mfred Cole John D. Long, Zadoc Long, Seba Smith, Columbia Gard- 
ner, John N. Irish, The Maxims, Ardelia H. Prince. Clara Marcelle Greene 
and others. 

CHAPTER XXII. 
Iiawyers 

Daniel Howard, first lawyer— Gen. Henry Farwell. second attorney- 
Samuel F Brown, Hon. Virgil D. Parris, Hrst native of Buckfield to prac- 
tice law in town— Col. Jacob \V. Browne. Hon. Sullivan C. Andrews. Hon. 
Geo. D. P.isbee. Hon. Oscar H. Hersey, Fred R. Dyer and others. 



8 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XX] II. 
Physicians 

Dr. Daniel Childs of Turner was first practitioner in Bucktown — 
Dr. Samuel Frink, first resident physician — Coming of Dr. William Bridg- 
ham — A famous law suit — Dr. Bridgham wins his cause. The command- 
ing- figure after this in ttie practice of medicine in Buckfleld and vicinity 
to his death — Dther pliysicians. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
Annals 1825 to 1850 

Events of interest — Death, of Abijah Buck for whom the town was 
named — Deaths of Revolutionary soldiers — Exercises at the opening of 
the Buckfield Branch R. R. — Other occurrences of note. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Temperance Movements 

E\ils of inteniperance recognized — Agitation for Reform — County So- 
ciety organized — Members — I^ocal organization in Buckfleld- — Washing- 
tonian movement — Petition to traders not to sell ardent spirits by the 
glass — Efforts made to enforce first prohibitive measures — The affair of 
the Farrar brothers — An interesting law-suit. 

CHAPTER XXV'I. 

Bnckfielcl ViUaffe in the Fifties 

A correspondent writes of the village — Its business interests and 
business men in 1853 — "Meek" Farrar's hotel and liis ad in local paper- 
Governor Long's letter. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
Iiater Educational History 

Grammar school established — Incoipoi'ators — Rev. William Pidgin, 
preceptor — Rev. Cyril Pearl, Students in 1S41 — The starting of the project 
of building a railroad prevented the founding of a high school or 
academy. 

CHAP'TER XXVIII. 

Buckfleld in the Civil War 

Public .'sentiment overwhelming in sustaining the war for the L'nion 
— First company organized and disbanded — ii)n]istments- — Draft — Buck- 
field's roll of honoi" — The soldier dead^Summary men furnished and 
credits. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
Annals 1850 to 1875 

Important events chronicled— Deaths of Rev. N^athaniel Chase .Jona- 
than Record and Capt. Josiah Parris — The latter was the last survivor 

of the Revolutionary soldiers who settled in Buckfleld after the war — 

Death of the gifted Columbia Gardner at the age of 35 and Mrs. Phebe 
(Buck) Foster in her 97th year — Other important events. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

Secret Societies and Piiblic Xiibrary 

Free Masonry, Odd Fellows, Patrons of Husbandry — -Order United 
American Mechanics — Badies' societies — The Public Library. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIRLD 9 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

The Railroad, Charter and Org-anization 

Projected by Hon. Virgil D. Pa: ri.'^. morlsagcd to Hon. F. O. J. Smith 
— Bad management and linal wreck of the road — Rescued by Hon. Geo. D. 
liisbee and others — Extended to Rumford Falls — Sold to Boston & Maine 
system. 

CHAPTKR XXXI I. 

Annals 1875 to 1900 

Fires — Building's erected — Industries established — Cyclone in N. W. 
part of town — Deaths of prominent persons and others — Other events 
of note. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

North Buckfieia 

John Warren first settler — Little village called "Spaulding's Mills" 

— Afterwards "Hale's Mills" and later "North Buckfleld" — Benj. Spaul- 

ding leading citizen — Larnard Swallow — Appleton F. !Mason — Powder 

Mills — Social and business interests. 



FART II. 

ZADOC LONG'S JOURNAL 

ABTJAH BUCK'S DIARY 

LUCIUS LORING'S REMINISCENCES 

ORFN RECORD'S DEPOSITION 

ARVILLA (SPAULDING) RECORD'S LETTER 



FART III. 

GENEALOGIES OF FAMILIES 

RECORD OF DEATHS 

APPENDIX 

TOWN OFFICERS 

REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS 

POST MxVSTERS 

MILITIA OFFICERS 

CENSUS OF 1790 

TAX LIST OF 1797 

CENSUS OF ISOO 

CENSUS OF 1850 

COUNTY ROADS 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PACE 

Hon. John D. Long Frontispiece 

Martha Maxim with Dedicatory Poem 13 

Map of Township witli Setthng Lots, etc 4 

Andrews, Hon. S. C 334 

Atwood, Ephraim 183 

Dea. Wm. H • .■ 184 

Kimball C , 187 

Geo. M 188 

Chas. B. and wife 191 

Four Gen. C. B. Fam. gr 192 

Baptist Church 143 

Parsonage, W. Buckfield 139 

Bessey, Everett M . . . ■ 528 

Bisbee, Hon. Geo. D 337 

Elisha 533 

Geo. W. and wife 534 

Stanley 539 

Spaulding 540 

Mrs. A. Louise and gr 535 

Bonney, Hon. .\Ibion P 542 

Bridgham, Capt. T. S 344 

Dr. William 351 

Browne, Col. Jacob \V 333 

Buck, Orlando J ' 555 

Dr. C. L 558 

Buckfield, View in 15 

Village, High Street 395 

Village, Elm Street 396 

Village Square, Pen Picture of 392 

Cliase, Hon. Thomas 195 

Roscoe G 196 

Charles 199 

Geo. H 200 

Childs, Hon. John Lewis 205 

Floral Park, etc. 206 

Cole, Alfred 209 

Cummings, Hon. Prentiss • 214 

Dea. Whitney 213 

DeCoster, Varanes and gr 576 

James H ■ ■ 575 

Dver, Fred R 347 



HISTORY OF BUUKFIKLD U 

Emery, Ellen Morrill 638 

Farrar's Hotel 391 

Federal Meeting House 176 

Forbes, Rev. Eleanor B 217 

Foster, Phebe Buck, at 95 425 

Gardner, Columbia 218 

Gertrude 218 

Greene, Clara Marcelle 297 

Harlow, Dana B 298 

Old Ho. :it PI 597 

Hersey, Rev. Levi • ■ 173 

Hon. O. H 343 

Hutchinson, Hon. J. P 223 

Irish, Thos. and wife, gr 607 

Long, John D 233 

Summer Home ■ • 234 

Public Library 441 

Hon. Zadoc ■ • ... 469 

Hon. Washington 247 

Thomas and wife 618 

Loring, Squire John 253 

Maj. Lucius 254 

Hill, view from 391 

Maxim, Martha 13 

Poets, gr 309 

Soldiers, gr 625 

Merrill, A. Judson, Fam. gr 631 

Morrill, Nathan 637 

Packard, Stephen and wife 641 

Farm B'ld'gs 642 

Stephen G • • ■ . 645 

Stephen G. Res 646 

Dr. F. H 649 

Penley and Hanno 650 

Parris, Four Gen. Hon. V. D. Fam. gr 261 

Phelps, R. .Ad. Thos. S 265 

Prince, Hon. Xoah 271 

Hon. Chas. H 275 

Henry C • 276 

Ardelia 317 

Record, Jonathan, at 100 421 

Roberts, Capt. C. C, gr 669 

Sawyer, Helen A 553 

Shaw, I. Wilson 681 

Small, Rev. A. K. P 151 

Albion W., L.UD 279 

Smith, Seba, gr 319 



12 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Spaulding, Benj.. Jr 285 

Wm. C 289 

Ben 286 

Cyrus C 290 

Thayer, Old Lt. Isaac Ho 693 

Tucker, Ruth A ■ 553 

Union Chapel 157 

White, Col. A. D 292 

Whitman, Joshua E. and Sons, gr 709 

Chas. R, gr 710 

Ozias and wife • 713 

Flora E 324 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



18 



Dedicatory Poem 

By Martha AIaxim 




Martha Maxim 



As kindred of a storied Past 
We turn this History's page, 

We trace upon its radiant leaves 
A goodly heritage. 

\\ e call the Old Time back again 
Its scenes with joy we hail 

As from the hallowed, glowing past 
We lift the time-worn veil. 

Through vistas dim we trace the steps 

Of sturdy pioneers, 
To voices of the Long Ago 

We hark back through the vears. 



As faint as echoes of a dream 

These voices from afar 
Seem floating down from Heaven's Gate 

Beyond the Evening Star. 

By fair Nezinscot's winding ways 

Our fathers' fathers trod. 
Loyal as were their Pilgrim sires 

To freedom, home, and God. 

To these Forefathers here recalled 

This Book we dedicate, 
May memories of their noble lives 

Its pages consecrate ! 

Ye dwellers b\- yon river fair 

With Time's unceasing flow 
More tenderly your hearts will cling 

To things of Long Ago. 

And as we wend our separate ways 
Come fortune's smile or frown. 

Our hearts will turn and voice this praj'cr 
God bless our dear old Town ! 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



CHAPTER I. 

1XTK0DL'CTI(3X. 



Buckfield is situated in the valley, drained by the Great 
Androscoggin River and its tributaries. It is bounded on the 
north by Sumner and Plartford ; on the east by Turner in Andro- 
scoggin County ; on the south by Hebron, and on the west by 
Paris, the shire town. 

Its area is about 22,000 acres. 

The town is well watered by ponds and streams. North 
Pond, so named from its situation about two miles north of the 
village, is partly in the town of Sumner. This little body of 
water is charmingly located in a deep secluded basin, environed 
by high wooded hills and is a favorite place of local resort. Its 
altitude is sufficient to afford a natural reservoir for an abundant 
supply of water by gravitation for Buckfield village. 

South Pond, also so called from its situation about one mile 
south of the village, is a small body of water of about half a mile 
in length and about one-quarter of that distance in its widest part. 
The road bed of the railroad was laid through a part of its east- 
ern border. Its waters are for the most part shallow, and in 
summer much of its surface is whitened with lilies. 

There is another very small pond in the northeastern section 
of the town called Lincoln Pond, which is the drainage center of 
a considerable section reaching to the Hartford town Une. 

The fourth and last, is Whitman Pond, of some three acres, 
lying in the south part of the town c^uite near to the Hebron town 
line. It is the source of Bog Brook, which flows through Hebron 
and Minot into the Little Androscoggin River just below the 
village of Mechanic Falls. 

The outlet of South Pond is a sluggish stream flowing north 
into the West Branch of the Twenty-Mile River near the upper 
part of the village. One would suppose from the lay of the land 



18 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

that the natural outlet of this pond would run south instead of 
north, and there is little doubt that at some remote period it did 
so flow, till in some convulsion of nature a slide of earth from 
the mountains and hills filled up its southern end sufticiently and 
sent the waters of the pond running the other way. 

There are numerous little streams which have their sources 
in the mountains and hills, and nearly all find their way into the 
Nezinscot or Twenty-Mile River — the principal stream which 
flows through the town, and across Turner, into the Great Andro- 
scoggin. 

This river has two branches which unite just below the vil- 
lage. The West Branch on which are the principal water powers 
of the village and at North Buckfield, once called Spaulding's 
Mills, has its source in Shagg Pond in northeastern Woodstock. 
The East Branch takes its rise near Tumble Down Dick in Peru 
and flowing south forms the boundary between the towns of 
Sumner and Hartford and enters Buckfield near the center of 
its northern border. 

The origin of the name of the principal stream of water in 
the town, is uncertain. It is not twenty miles from the junction 
of the two branches to its mouth and is more than that from 
either source to its union with the larger river. Nezinscot is 
from the Indian word nezinske, signifying twenty, but as the sav- 
ages could have had originally no knowledge of distances meas- 
ured by English miles, the application of this name to the river, 
must be attributed to some other cause than distance, now lost 
beyond recovery. 

The surface of the town has that diversity and rugged forma- 
tion, common to the other towns of the county. It is broken 
into numerous hills, with comparatively level stretches along the 
river valleys and undulating tracts of arable land in the highlands 
on either side. Waste lands here and there appear, aggregating 
quite an acreage, but mostly in the vicinity of Jersey Bog in the 
eastern part of the town, and in the mountain districts in the 
southwestern portion of Buckfield, where the surface is more 
broken. 

The highest and most important elevation is Streaked Moun- 
tain, on which corner the three towns of Buckfield, Hebron and 
Paris. It is nearly i,8oo feet above sea level and about 900 feet 
above the village of Paris Hill. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 19 

Next to Streaked Mountain in prominence is Owl's Head. 
Its altitude has never been ascertained. The two elevations are 
separated by a deep valley, and it's plain to be seen by compari- 
son that Streaked Mountain is se\eral hundred feet higher than 
its neighboring peak. 

The soil of the town is of good quality and excellent for In- 
dian corn and grain. The intervales are free from stones and 
highly productive. The hill sides and uplands are well adapted 
for grazing and fruit culture. Here is the natural home of the 
apple, which grows to perfection. No town has a greater variety 
of springs of pure water. 

The principal varieties of forest trees are the pine, hemlock, 
spruce, fir, cedar, rock and white maple, beech, yellow and white 
birch, oak, white and brown ash, poplar, basswood and elm. 

Xo minerals of economic value are known to be in town, 
with the exception of a deposit of iron ore, on what was once 
known as the Lysander Lowe farm in the western part of the 
town. Some of this ore was smelted in 1837 and found to be 
of excellent quality. 

On Streaked Mountain and Owl's Head, mixed with the 
granite veins, beautiful crystals of beryl, black tourmalines, etc., 
have been found. Recent investigations here give maications 
of richer mineral deposits similar to those of Mt. Mica in Paris. 

The scenery is everywhere delightful and from Streaked 
Mountain, grand and beautiful. The lovely landscape views 
from its summit dotted with ponds and silvery streams, and 
pretty villages, is almost unrivalled. One of the Harpers of 
New York, who once visited the place, said he had been all over 
Europe and in Switzerland, and he had seen nothing so beauti- 
ful and lovely as the view from Streaked Mountain. 



20 HISTORY OF BUCKFiELD 

CHAPTER II. 

Perspective. 

Prior to the beginning of the War of the Revolution, the tract 
of country embraced in what is now the town of Buckfield was 
an unbroken wilderness. It was but a decade and a half since 
Canada had passed into the possession of the English, through 
Gen. Wolfe's great victory on the Plains of Abraham, and the 
surrender of Quebec to the British Arms. This was the only 
period since the landing of the Pilgrims, at Plymouth, in which 
those seeking to found new settlements in the District of Maine 
and away from the coasts, could do so without fear of attack by 
savages, or of the interruption of peaceable pursuits. 

In the wars between England and France for the possession 
of the St. Lawrence and Ohio valleys and x-Vcadia, ruin had often 
fallen on the homes of the white settlers, but the savage tribes 
in the District of Maine had been broken up or destroyed. Those 
who survived the wars and remained, in what is now the county 
of Oxford, were but a few scattered bands, living where they 
might best procure tish and game. 

At the time of the coming of the early settlers, a small band 
lived at the mouth of the Nezinscot, or Twenty-Mile River, a very 
few near North Pond, in what is now the town of Sumner, and a 
larger number in the Rangeley lake region. None of these showed 
any hostile disposition. During the period mentioned, the wilder- 
ness along the Androscoggin, Saco anci other rivers, was invaded 
by hundreds of people in search of lands on which to found new 
settlements and make permanent homes. 

Massachusetts always pursued a wise and liberal policy, in 
promoting and encouraging new settlements, and from time to 
time, the General Court passed acts, in furtherance of this pol- 
icy. No difficulty in obtaining grants of land was experienced 
by those who had served the State in any of its wars, by their 
descendants, or by those who had been victims of Indian cruelty. 
Townships were assigned to responsible parties, on very liberal 
terms. Practically the lands belonging to the Commonwealth, 
away from the coast and large rivers, were open to all for settle- 
ment on the general conditions that each individual, to be entitled 
to lOO acres of land, must actually enter upon his tract, clear 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 21 

from five to eight acres, and put tliem into condition for tillage, 
within three years. He must also erect a habitation at least 
eighteen feet square and seven feet post. The number required 
by the Commonwealth for tiie formation of a township was gen- 
erally about sixty. After a certain number of years, the com- 
munity thus formed was obliged to settle a "learned" Protestant 
minister and make provision for his support. Lots were re- 
served for schools and the ministry, and, at a later period, a lot 
for the future disposition of the government. 

This was substr.ntially the law at the time the first settlers came 
into what is now the town of Buckfield. There is abundant evi- 
dence to show that they expected to induce a sufficient number 
to follow them, so that each would hold his loo or more acres of 
land free, and to ensure the purchase by them of the remainder 
of the township on the conditions usually imposed by the Com- 
monwealth. 

After the first settlement was made, and before the purchase 
of the township was eltected, the law was changed, so that the 
only conditions imposed, were that any settler who, in four years' 
time, cleared i6 acres and erected a habitation, could for a small 
sum, obtain his deed of lOO acres. As will be seen hereafter, 
this sum varied at dift'erent dates from about one pound ($5) to 
a little over $9.00. Proprietors of townships, however, were 
compelled to submit to the usual conditions for the support of 
schools and the ministry. 

This law regarding indi\idual settlers was not in force after 
January i, 1784, but it was in existence long enough to change 
the purpose of the greater number of those who settled in the 
township prior to 1781. Before this act passed, they had ex- 
pected to become proprietors, but after it became a law, many 
chose to have their 100 acres set out to them, without being bur- 
dened with the responsibilities imposed on proprietors. A few 
of them, however, never relinquished the idea of purchasing the 
township and becoming proprietors. They saw, if the enterprise 
was successful, that they could acquire all the land they desired 
at little or no cost and, through the sale of lots to new settlers 
and others, that they had a fair prospect of becoming well-to-do. 
How successful they were, the future pages of this work will 
show. 



22 HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 

It should not be forgotten that the lands on the east, west and 
south of the tract which includes Buckfield had already been dis- 
posed of, in grants to other parties, and the fact that here and to 
the northward was the only land where practically free homes 
could be obtained, brought hither the greater number of those 
who settled in the township prior to January i, 1784. 



HISTORY OF RUCKFIF.LD 23 

CHAPTER III. 
Ear[,y SF;rTi.EMi£.\'r. 

In the autumn of 1776, according to tradition, a party ot 
hunters from New Gloucester, Maine, consisting of Abijah and 
Nathaniel Buck, Thomas Allen and John Brown, with perhaps 
others, came into what is now the town of Buckfield, for the 
secondary purpose of procuring game in which the region 
abounded, but primarily to select lots for a permanent settlement. 
They, or a part of them, had been here before on hunting expe- 
ditions, and had ascertained that it was a goodly land tit for hab- 
itation, and had determined to settle here. Long before this. 
Streaked Mountain. Twenty-Mile River, and even Bog Brook, 
had received the names by which they have ever since been 
known. Hunters had found that bears and catamounts were 
numerous around Streaked Mountain and Owl's Head, that 
Twenty-Mile River and South Pond were full of tish, while Bog 
Brook was noted for its beaver. This brought them into the 
region during the autumn months, in increasing numbers. The 
party mentioned having determined upon a settlement, knew there 
was no time to lose if they were to obtain and hold possession. 

The leader and moving spirit was Abijah Buck, then about 
thirty-four years old. He had served in the Colonial forces 
during the greater part of the year i7r)0 — the year after Quebec 
had fallen. He had previously been a "Scout to the Eastward." 
From North Yarmouth, he had entered the service, and it was 
stated in his enlistment papers that he was born at Dunstable, 
Mass., age 17, and that his father's name was John Buck. His 
early education could not have been of the best, but he had ac- 
quired a large store of what may be termed practical knowl- 
edge. He wrote a fair hand for those times. His address was 
pleasing and his ways such as to win the confidence of those he 
approached. No man of the early period in the town's history 
was abler or of more integrity, and the most difficult undertakings 
requiring great tact and good judgment were given over to him 
to manage. He was the second person after the town was in- 
corporated, to be commissioned as a Justice of the Peace, and 
was ever afterwards called "Squire Buck," even in depositions 
and other legal documents. He was not much in town office, for 



24 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

the reason probably, that for a considerable time, there was a 
strong feeling among the town's people against the proprietors, 
conceiving that their interests must be antagonistic to the town's 
interest. He was, however, several times elected one of the 
board of selectmen and assessors. 

\\'hen Abijah Buck came into the township he was well-to-do. 
The price for which he sold his homestead in New Gloucester, 
shows him to have been possessed of $r,ooo and upwards in cash 
or currency — a handsome property for persons in his station for 
those times, and demonstrates that poverty did not drive him into 
the wilderness to find a new home. 

Nathaniel Buck, born about 1750, was a younger brother of 
Abijah Buck. He was a man of great physical strength and 
endurance, and noted for being an expert hunter and skilled in 
wood craft. 

In after years he was called a "housewright"" which occupa- 
tion claimed nearly all his attention. He was an industrious and 
thrifty man and withal a good citizen. 

Thomas Allen was a deserter from the English Army on ac- 
count of the Boston Massacre in 1770, in which he had partici- 
pated, and his sympathy with the Americans. He was born in 
Bolton, England, about 1752. Before attaining his majority he 
had been apprenticed to a weaver. Allen appears to have been 
fairly well educated and was a good penman, as his records as 
town clerk show. Being of an adventurous disposition, he had 
enlisted as a soldier to come to Massachusetts to keep the people 
of that colony in subjection. But he quickly caught the spirit of 
independence of the people, and when a favorable opportunity 
offered, he, with another British soldier, deserted. They were 
pursued, however, so hotly that they were forced to take refuge 
under a bridge, over which their pursuers galloped on horse-' 
back. No sooner had the sound of their horses' hoofs died 
away in the distance than Allen and his companion scrambled 
out and fled into the woods. It had been a most anxious period 
for them while under the bridge, for they realized, if captured, 
that they would be shot. Allen, in relating the story in after 
years to his Buckfield neighbors, said that his hair fairly stood 
on end when the horses' hoofs struck the bridge. He espoused 
the cause of the Americans and did good service at dift'erent 
periods during the conflict. Referring to this service, he once 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 25 

said : "I fought my own countrymen, and I fought hke a lion, 
but it was for that freedom whicli I now enjoy." Allen never 
ceased, however, to love his native land, and often remarked : 
"There are no such sweet songbirds as in Old England." He 
was a man of fiery temper, when aroused. In politics he became 
a staunch federalist and no amount of persuasion of his old 
associates, the Bucks, who had espoused the cause of the repub- 
licans, could induce him to change his views, no matter in how 
much of a minority he might find himself. 

John Brown had seen service in the old French and Indian 
War. He was the father-in-law of Thomas Allen and Nathan- 
iel Buck. His wife had died prior to his coming and it is proba- 
ble that he was then past middle life. So far as known he was 
not related to the other Browns who afterwards acquired settling 
lots in the township. 

The party had come by way of the Nezinscot or Twenty- Alile 
ri\er. through what is now the town of Turner. They found 
here in a hunter's cabin, in the limits of what is now the village, 
Benjamin Spaulding of Chelmsford, Mass., who had taken up his 
abode in the wilderness for a season, till two friends of his who 
had failed to meet the payments of obligations, for which he was 
surety, could effect a satisfactory settlement with their creditors. 
This was done during the two following years. On Spaulding's 
camp were stretched to dry, the skins of many animals he had 
caught in traps, or shot in the chase. He informed the party 
that game of all kinds was there in great abundance, and that a 
few Indians had a wigwam near a pond about two miles north- 
ward, but were peaceably disposed and would make no trouble. 
Benjamin Spaulding had been born at Concord, Mass., Feb. 5, 
1739. and was then in his prime. He married Patty Barrett of 
Chelmsford, Nov. 29, 17O4. The descendants of this worthy 
couple of every generation, have always been considered as of the 
very best of the people of the town, and have ever been honored 
with offices and positions of trust within their gift. Spaulding 
became one of the three leading spirits in the management of the 
proprietary and the most prosperous and wealthy of them all. 

Abijah Buck and his associates tarried for several days with 
Spaulding. It is cjuite certain from previous knowledge and in- 
formation, that Abijah Buck had formed a definite purpose to 
purchase and colonize the township. 



26 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

It must have been a very difficult and laborious undertaking, 
at that period, to get together a sufficient number of persons to 
settle a new township, so far back in the wilderness. His father- 
in-law, Jonathan Tyler had had much experience, with others, in 
disposing of the proprietors' lands in New Gloucester, and it was 
determined that he, with his wife, Rebecca — their children hav- 
ing grown up, — should go to the new township and there pass the 
remainder of their days with the family of Abijah Buck, who 
doubtless considered it wise to locate a few famiilies on the tract 
in order the better to attract other settlers there. Besides, he 
must have desired to obtain the choicest lots for himself, his rela- 
tives, and those who were to start out with him. We can pretty 
accurately fix the time when his purpose to colonize this new 
township, was formed, for he had purchased an hundred-acre 
tract in New Gloucester in April, 1772, for £100, on which he 
subsequently built a house and barn. In April, 1773, with Jona- 
than Tyler, Samuel Tyler, and four others, he purchased a 600- 
acre tract in two parcels for £225, "lying in the Gore so called, 
in the back part of North Yarmouth, bordering on New Glouces- 
ter." Up to this time, it is apparent, that Abijah Buck had 
formed no purpose of going elsewhere, but to add to, and im- 
prove, the possessions he already had. He and the Tylers appear 
to have disposed of their interest, about two years later, in this 
North Yarmouth tract, which without doubt was the time when 
the project of settling a whole township, north of Shepardstield I 
and west of Sylvester townships, became the' great purpose of 
his life. Aibjah Buck conveyed his New Gloucester homestead 
Nov. 4, 1776, for £213. This must have been shortly after the 
exploring party's examination of the new locality for a perma- 
nent settlement, as related. No doubt that the bargain for the 
sale of his place had been practically completed, contingent upon 
Abijah Buck and his associates finding in the wilderness on the 
Nezinscot suitable and desirable locations for their new homes. 
So that between the Spring of 1773 and the Autumn of 1776, the 
project of a settlement, in what is now the town of Buckfield, was 
conceived and started by Abijah Buck. The desirability of hav- 
ing such a man as Benjamin Spaulding, with his knowledge of 
the region, interested in his enterprise, must have been apparent 
to one possessing the perception and judgment of Abijah Buck. 
That Spaulding was won over is shown by his beginning, that 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 27 

very year, to fell trees for a clearing on the lot where his camp 
stood — the tirst made, in point of time, according to all accounts. 
The spot was at the junction of the East Branch with the main 
river, below the site of the present village. 

The lot selected by Abijah Buck was situated on the west 
branch of the river about a mile northwest of Spaulding's lot. on 
what was known in our boyhood as the Col. A. D. White farm. 
Nathaniel Buck took the lot adjoining on the north. Thomas 
Allen one on the southeast, while John Brown selected the one 
adjoining Allen's on the east. As the lands on the river at high 
water were overflowed, several acres on each of these lots were 
practically cleared, and here a certain kind of grass grew, which 
when properly cured, furnished good feed for cattle. As before 
stated, the law that settlers must clear a certain number of acres 
within a given period, no doubt appealed strongly to these 
pioneers, in the selection of their lots, as it lessened their labors 
in putting their land into a state of cultivation. Besides, it was 
desirable to have fodder for cattle. What they did at this time, 
if anything, in addition to the selection of their lots, it is now 
impossible to determine. It is probable that some hay was gath- 
ered and stacked, since the moving, with cattle, so early the next 
year, rendered it essential that something beforehand be pro- 
cured till grass grew in the Spring. 

AMiile the snow was yet on the ground and the ice in the 
streams, preparations w^ere made by these hardy settlers for mov- 
ing into the wilderness. It would have been a very laborious and 
difficult undertaking, after the snow had gone to come through 
the woods, with families and household effects, where for many 
miles there was not so much as a "bridle-path," or even a course 
marked by spotted trees. Acccordingly, it w^as determined to 
move by ox-team on the ice, by way of the Androscoggin and 
Twenty-Mile rivers. Traveling- in that way during;- the latter 
part of March, 1777, they arrived at their new homes on the first 
day of April. Abijah Buck recorded in his diary and account 
book the following statement : 

"Bucktown March th4 yr 1777. Beginning this town at that 
time." What was done then to warrant this statement, is uncer- 
tain, but it is probable that it was the beginning of the con- 
struction of the log house and other buildings for Abijah Buck, 
and perhaps for Allen and Nathaniel Buck. The house of Abijah 



28 HISTORY OF BUCKFTF.LD 

Buck was built large enough for two families — his own and 
Jonathan Tyler's — thenceforth for life to reside with him. 

On the opposite page of the diary from the entry mentioned, 
he wrote forty-nine names besides his own. presumably of per- 
sons he depended upon to aid him in purchasing the township 
and assist in its settlement. They are as follows. Alany of the 
names have long been familiar in Buckfield : 

Abijah Buck James Thurlo 

Benjamin Spaulding David Record 

Xathaniel Buck Jonathan Record 

Thomas Allen Simon Record 

John Brown John Buck. Jr. 

Jonathan Tyler Edmund Chandler 

Moses Buck Hezekiah Studson 

William Doble Samuel :Merrill 

Jonas Coburn Jabez Cushman 

Thomas Coburn Richard Dearborn 

John Buck Silas Coburn 

Bani Teague Jacob Cram 

Isaac Foster Wm. Hutchinson 

I-.emuel Crooker Xathaniel Ingersoll 

Jonathan Philbrick William Widgery 

John Irish Joshua Ripley 

Andrew Elliott Samuel Butterfield 

John Warren Samuel Butterfield. Jr. 

Richard Thurlo Ebenezer Bancroft 

Davis Thurlo . Ebenezer Bancroft, Jr. 

Xathaniel Gammon Henry Butterfield 

John Thurlo Moses Butterfield 

Thomas Lowell Joseph French 

Peter "^"Tiite John Jones 

Asa Thurlo Samuel Freeman 

As will be seen, hereafter, some of them became interested in 
the settlement of the two townships, north of "Bucktown," and a 
number actually settled there. 

AMlliam Widgery and Samuel Freeman were prominent citi- 
zens of Cumberland county, and doubtless were relied upon to 
assist in procuring the passage of all necessary legislation through 
the General Court at Boston and perhaps to take a certain num- 
ber of shares or rights in the enterprise. Freeman "drew up" 
several of the petitions which were presented to that body. 
Xathaniel Ingersoli was Abijah Buck's captain in the army. That 
to Abijah Buck is due the chief credit for the settlement of the 
town, there can be no question. On first coming he gave it the 
name of "Bucktown," and so entered it in his diary. The Gen- 
eral Court adopted the name and all acquiesced. The township 
was often referred to as "Buck's Proprietary." 



HISTORY OF RLXKFIELD 29 

There are several accounts of the journey of the earliest set- 
tlers here, which have come down to us through the Bucks, the 
Spauldings, the Records and other famihes. There are some 
variations, as might well be expected. Here is what Thomas Allen 
has left recorded about the first incidents of importance, in the 
settlement of the town on the first page of the town clerk's records 
of Buckfield: 

"The first improvement, ever known to be made in the town 
of Buckfield, by any Englishman, was in the year 1776, by Ben- 
jamin Spaulding. The first that came with their families, were 
Abijah Buck and Thomas Allen, who, on the first day of April 

1777, came into this town, with their wives and children, and in 
the same month. Nathaniel Buck came in with his familv. These 
were the three first families, that settled in what is now the town 
of Buckfield. On the 30th day of September 1777, Molly Allen 
was born. Abijah Buck (Jr.) was born the first day of March 

1778. These were the first children, born in the town of Buck- 
field." 

The general narrative of the coming is substantially as fol- 
lows: The families of Abijah Buck and Thomas Allen, with a 
part of their household goods, upon an ox-sled, drawn by a pair 
of three years old steers, owned b}^ Abijah Buck, started from 
New Gloucester in the month of March 1777, for their new 
homes, in the wilderness. Arriving at the Androscoggin River, 
they proceeded on the ice to the mouth of Twenty-Mile River, 
then turned up this stream, westward into Sylvester township 
(now Turner). AMien they came to falls in the river, they were 
forced to leave the ice and proceed on the banks. It became 
necessary then to cut down some trees and lop off branches which 
prevented their progress. 

At the settlement in Sylvester township two men, one of whom 
was Jonathan Record, afterward a settler in Bucktown, were 
employed to assist Buck and Allen in their work of clearing a 
path. \\'hen the ceremony took place in 1848, at the village, of 

XoTE. Jonathan Tyler sold his homestead farm in Xew Gloucestei 
March 27, 1777. Abijah Buck was one of the witnesses to the deed, 
which places him in Xew Gloucester on that date, undoubtedly just be- 
fore his and Allen's families started for their new homes in the wilder- 
ness. 



30 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

breaking ground for the beginning of the construction of the 
Buckheld Branch Railroad. Jonathan Record, then nearly one 
hundred years old, and the only survivor of those who worked in 
clearing the way for the first team ever driven into the township, 
was assigned to shovel tlie first spadeful of earth. Having at 
last arrived at Benjamin Spaulding's camp, the emigrants rested 
for a short time, while the women prepared something to eat. 
On their way thitlier. Abijah Buck had gone on ahead to hunt for 
deer, and was fortunate enough to procure a moose. Some of 
the flesh of this animal, roasted brown over the fire, furnished the 
choicest part of the meal. After all had heartily eaten, they re- 
sumed their journey, and before nightfall were comfortable and 
merr\' in their new homes. 

The family of Abijah Buck then consisted of his wife and five 
children. One daughter. Phebe. ten years old, was left in Xew 
Gloucester with her maternal grandparents, and came with them 
the next year. There was but one child in the Allen family — the 
little son John, less than two years old. Later in tlie same 
month, Xathaniel Buck moved his family into the township. His 
children numbered three. The youngest was Xathaniel. Jr.. who 
was about the same age as the Allen child. \\'ith this family 
came also John Brown. In September of this year was born in 
the family of Thomas Allen, the first child in the little set- 
tlement. It was a girl, who was named Mollie for her aunt. Mrs. 
Xathaniel Buck. \\'hat crops they raised, or how these three 
famihes fared the first year, cannot now be told. It must have 
been a period of great hardship and toil. The following, how- 
ever, is the only incident of actual suffering for food, that has 
come down to us : They nearly got out of provisions late in the 
autumn, at about the time of the fall of the first snows, and 
Abijah Buck and two others started with the ox-team for Xew 
Gloucester, leaving one man (tradition says Xathaniel Buck ) 
behind, to take care of the women and children. For better pro- 
tection, all went to Abijali Buck's, to stay till the men should 
return. For all the famiUes there was but half a bushel of com 
meal. Abiiah Buck had a small heifer which gave only three 
pints of milk a day. It was expected that the one left behind 
could supply them with sufficient meat with his gun to keep them 
from actual starvation, with the milk and com bread, for the 
three days the tnen expected to be away. In the night after the 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 31 

men had gone, a cold and violent snow storm came on. which 
lasted several days, followed by a high wind which piled the 
snow into huge drifts. Fearing that something might befall the 
man left in charge of the women and children, in his weakened 
condition, and that they would be left without protection, they 
would not let him go into the forest in search of food. There 
were eight children to feed, and the older ones ate but little, lest 
they should deprixe the children of what was necessary to keep 
them from starvation. Nathaniel Buck became so weak that he 
staggered as he went about the work he must of necessity do. 
The men were gone seven days, and during two days of this time 
there was nothing to eat but the milk and this was given all to 
the children. The men knowing the urgent necessity of their re- 
turn, raised a crew and with their ox-teams broke through the 
snow drifts to the settlement. \\ hen they at last appeared, with 
food and provisions, the joy and relief of these nearly famished 
people can better be imagined than described. 

Only the two families of Benjamin Spaulding and Jonathan 
l\vler, so far as known, were added in 1778. to the number 
in the little settlement. At this time there were six children 
in the Spaulding family, the youngest being an infant in its 
mother's arms. A part only of the children came with their 
parents. The family was moved from Chelmsford with a ox- 
team and a cow was led behind. The wife of Jason Mitchell of 
Buckfield. in 1888 had a chair which was brought with this family 
at the time of their coming. Jonathan Tyler's family consisted 
only of himself and wife. — both nearly seventy years of age. 
They brought with them their granddaughter, Phebe Buck, who 
had been left behind when her father's family came the year be- 
fore. The incident of this journey which has been preserved, is 
of their being rowed across a river — tradition does not say what 
river — in a birchbark canoe. 

Jonathan Tyler, like Benjamin Spaulding, was a valuable 
acquisition to the little colony. He was fourth in descent from 
Job Tyler, the American ancestor who had settled at Andox er. 
Mass., in 1641. He was a "millwright" and is said to have built 
200 mills. He had lost a part of one hand, probably his left, for 
he acted as clerk of the proprietors for many years. On the 
incorporation of the town of New Gloucester in 1774, he was 
chosen, with two others, to "manage the affairs" of the town, and 



32 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



he next year re-elected. He had conveyed land in that town "'in 
die 6th year ot the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord and King 
George the Tin rd ( 1766) . His wife's name was Rebecca-born 
m Haverhill, Mass. According to the Rev. Paul CofKn's journal 
of a missionary tour through the towns in this section in 1800 she 
was then living at the age of 90 and remembered Hannah Dustin 
who escaped irom captivity after killing seven Indians. Her 
husband had passed away, probably the year (179-) that a new 
Clark was elected tor the proprietors. On coming here Jona- 
than Tyler did not select a lot for settlement, but one was after- 
wards voted him by the proprietors in the westerlv part of the 
town, but he never occupied it. 

The year 1778 as well as 1777, must have been one of priva- 
tion and perhaps of some suffering. AX'e are told of frequent 
journeys to Xew Gloucester for provisions, and of the settlers 
carrying home on their backs large loads of corn and rve meal 
salt, and various other articles. On one occasion, xNathaniel Buck 
IS said to have brought from Xew Gloucester, on his back three 
bushels ot meal and a bag of salt. A map of the township, made 
m 1795. gives the distance from the center of the town to Xew 
Gloucester court house as twenty-tive miles, but by the way the 
settlers went and came, it must have been much farther It is no 
wonder, although of fabulous strength-he is said to have been 
the strongest man. physically, ever in the township or town— that 
Xathaniel got very tired before-reaching the settlement, and fear- 
ing It he laid down his load, that he should not be able to place it 
upon his shoulders again, to obtain a little rest and take breath 
he occasionally leaned against the trees by the side of the path. 

It is related in the History of Turner that mills for grinding 
corn were erected at what is now Turner village, in 1775. If this 
IS so, it does not appear just why the early settlers in Bucktown 
went to Xew Gloucester. It took three days to go and come, and 
until horses were common in the settlement, provisions had to be 
transported on the settlers' backs. Probably the date given when 
mills in Sylvester township were first built, is an error. The 
stories of the journeys of the early Bucktown settlers to Xew 
Gloucester are so numerous and full of particulars that they leave 
no room for doubt of the fact that such journeys took place. 
The settlers were very industrious and their little clearings stead- 
ily broadened and widened year by year and here again the tales 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 33 

of Xatlianiel lUick's capacit}' for handling' tiie trunks and limbs 
of large trees and piling them together for burning, overshadow 
all others. Piles of logs were often seen in his clearing which re- 
cjuired cattle or several men to move in the openings of the other 
settlers. He was a veritable Samson among his associates, and it 
is to be presumed that no one of them cared to lay hands on him 
in anger. Jacob Leonard once said in speaking of him, that his 
hands and limbs were like a giant's. 

It is related, as a remarkable fact, that while Nathaniel Buck 
was clearing his land, an apple tree was found growing wild. It 
was regarded as a good omen of his future thrift and prosperity 
and was carefully preserved. 

The event of the year, in the little settlement, was the appear- 
ance in the family of Abijah Buck, on the first day of March, of 
the first male child born in the township. He was named Abijah 
Buck, Jr. A male child was also born, during the same month, 
in the family of Nathaniel Buck, and was named Moses, for his 
uncle, r^Ioses Buck, who settled in what is now the town of 
Smnner. 

In the early part of 1779, John Buck, a brother of the two 
Bucks mentioned, moved his family into the township. It con- 
sisted of his wife and two daughters. The oldest was only about 
two years of age, — the other an infant but a few weeks old. The 
date of their coming is fixed by family tradition as a short time 
after this child was born, which was on the 5th day of February, 
1779. John Buck settled on the northern slope of North Hill on 
the westerly side of what is now the county road. Here he had 
great fields of corn, sucli as no other settler raised, if we are to 
put credence in the stories which ha\ e come down to us. He was 
generous with the poor in his dealings with them and often sup- 
plied them with corn to plant and to grind into meal, which, when 
cooked in the many ways then known to the housewife, furnished 
the staple article of diet. Many failed to repay him, and he never 
exacted remuneration. None were ever turned away empty- 
handed. Such a man could not grow wealthy in such a new set- 
tlement and John Buck was no exception to this rule. 

Jonathan and David Record, twin brothers, said to have been 
born in Pembroke, but then residents of Bridgewater, Mass., came 
into the township the same year, to select lots for a settlement. 
They went to Sylvester plantation in 1776. Two others of the 



34 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



name of Record were among the hrst settlers there, and thev mav 
have been related. In company with one Phillips they raised 
corn there that year. Jonathan, at least, was in Sylvester in the 
early part of the next year, as we have seen. Thev began their 
clearing between Xorth and South Hill, and erected a habitation 
to accommodate two families. Both had seen service in the Con- 
tinental Army and both were unmarried, but the happy event had 
been anticipated, and the time appointed, for celebrating the nup- 
tials. Jonathan's sweetheart was Remember Briggs of Bridge- 
water, David's was Abigail Dair.on of Pembroke. The double 
wedding took place as appointed and their wedding trip was their 
journey to their home in the wilds of !Maine. All went well with 
them for a time, but later on there was a disagreement between the 
wives, and each husband espousing the cause of his wife, the 
brothers agreed to separate and live apart. Jonathan leav'ng the 
lot to David, selected another on Xorth Hill, on what was until 
recently known as the Rasselas Cole farm. (The Mtal Statistics 
of Pembroke state that David Record and Abigail Damon were 
married Sept. 9. 1781. She was born Dec. 19. 175S. ) 

There also came into the township, during the year 1779. or 
1780, as new settlers, the following persons: 



Edmund Chandler 
Jonathan Philbrick 
Thomas Coburn 
James Thurlo 
John Irish. Jr. 
William Doble 
Richard Thurlo 
John Thurlo 
Asa Thurlo 
Lemuel Crooker 



Isaac Foster 
Bani Teague 
Jonas Coburn 
John AVarren 
Simon Record 
Nathaniel Gammon 
r>avis Thurlo 
Thomas Lowell 
and Peter ^^^lite 



There may have been others, but if so. they stayed but a short 
time and then went elsewhere. Edmund Chandler was from X'ew 
Gloucester or Xorth Yarmouth. His lot was situated south of 
what is now the count\- road leading to Paris Hill and included 
the water privilege where the first mills were built. He was the 
first miller in the township, and is said to have built the first mill. 
He sold one-half of the mill and water privileges and his settling 
lot to Dominicus Record and Mark Andrews in 1795. Record 
and Andrews made a division^ — the fomier took the mills and the 
latter the settling lot and b.iiklings upon it. In conveyances from 
1790 to 1800, Chandler is sometimes described as being a resident 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 35 

of Bucktown and sometimes of Xew Gloucester. He "got off" 
Jotham Shaw from Lot 6, E. Div.. and appears to have hved on it 
for a period. He died in North Yarmouth about 1818. 

Isaac Foster was from Pembroke. He had served in the Con- 
tinental Army. His wife was Ranah Taylor, a daughter of Sam- 
uel, the wit and rhymster of the early settlers. His settling lot 
was Xo. 14. comprising what is now Loring's Hill and a part of 
the village. Isaac Foster was an uncle of Joel Foster, who set- 
tled here about 1787, and married Phebe Buck. His wife died in 
1799, and he married Judith C. Smith, who appears to have had 
so much influence over him that they moved to Portland — aban- 
doning two of his children by his first wife, to become town 
charges. 

Jonathan Philbrick from Standish, then past middle life, set- 
tled on Lot Xo. 13 just south of the village, where the Dean 
sisters lately resided. Here he spent the remainder of his days. 
He was a soldier in the old French and Indian War. Philbrick 
was the first pound keeper in town. He was undoubtedly a wor- 
thy man. He died after December, 1805. His son, Enoch, was 
elected as town clerk to succeed Thomas x\llen when he moved to 
Hartford, and his grandson. Ximenes, represented the town in the 
Legislature. 

Bani (often spelled Beni) Teague from Plymouth Colony, set- 
tled on Lot No. 2, E. Div., north of the river on Turner line. 
Part of his settling lot was sold to Richard Taylor in 1788, and 
the rest of it was afterwards the property of Rev. Nathaniel 
Chase. His son of the same name, built the mills on the river in 
Turner about a mile from the Buckfield town line. They were 
first called Teague's Mills, now Chase's Mills. Bani Teague's 
name disappeared from the Buckfield tax lists after 181 5. 

Thomas and Jonas Coburn from Dracut, Mass., had lots Nos. 
10 and II, on X^orth Hill. The former is now the summer resi- 
dence of Hon. John D. Long. It is a singular fact that Jonas 
and Thomas Coburn were among the first settlers in what is now 
the city of Lewiston, about 1770 — moving from there to Buck- 
town. Jonas disposed of his settling lot before 1800 and moved 
into the town of Turner. Thomas Coburn was one of the pro- 
prietors of the township and was often selected for important 
duties connected therewith. He died in 1804 and his heirs sold 
the homestead to Daniel Howard, Esq., our first lawyer. 



36 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 



John, Tames, Asa, Richard and Davis Thurlo from Windham 
and Uorham, signed Abijah Buck's petition for the purchase of 
the township. The last four were undoubtedly sons of James a 
brother of John, who married in 1749, Judith Crediford. This 
James was a son ot Richard, who had settled in Gorham from 
i^erwick. He and his wife, Ann. had joined "the church" bv 
••protession of faith." All five had seen service in the Continental 
Army. John s lot was Xo. 36 on the road from the Lowell Cor- 
ner to Hebron and bordering on the town line. He later .old his 
lot to Jonas Coburn and went away. Asa's lot was. we think 
Ao. 3-^ adjommg John's on the north, which he disposed of to 
l^.zra Brown. He was a resident of Hebron in 1794 After- 
wards the family removed to Woodstock where he died. Davis 
had Lot Xo. 34 adjoining Asa's on the north, an:l Richard Lot 
Ao. 3 in the extreme southeast part of the township in the vicin- 
ity, while the lot of James (Xo. 12) was on Xorth Hill, north 
of Jonas eoburn's on the east side of the countv road, as after- 
wards laid out. Jc.mes Thurlo died before receiving the deed of 
his lot and his heirs sold to Deacon William Berr^• Richard 
and Da^•ls did not remain long in the township. The^ joined the 
bhaker Colony at "Sabbath Day Pond," Xew Gloucester Phile- 
mon Parsons m 1793 acquired Lot Xo. 34. and Ezra Brown Lot 
Ao. 3 as non-resident land. Richard, born in 1754. had married 
Minam, daughter of Stephen Lowell, and it is said that he turned 
oyer to the society a considerable property, when he joined tlae 
Shakers. The parents and a daughter lived with them during the 
remainder of their lives. The three sons. L.aac. Robert and 
Mephen, atter they became of age. left and went into busine.. for 
themselves. 

Peter \\-hite, a Revolutionary soldier from Gorham. had Lot 
Ao. 7 on South Hill (in later years what was known as the 
Elkanah Irish place). He sold out and went to Standish Me 
betore the census of 1790 was taken. His farm was situated 
near Sebago Lake. Perhaps White River, which empties into 
the lake m that section where he lived, took its name from him 

Aathaniel Gammon from Gorham, settled on Lot 3-^ near 
what was afterwards the Lowell Comer. He had se^^-ed in the 
Continental Army. His wife was Molly, the second daughter of 
Stephen Lowell. He passed the rest of his Hfe on the farm he 
had carved out of the wilderness. Xathaniel Gammon was a man 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 37 

of upright character, of studious and industrious habits, and 
highly respected by all who knew him. as were also the members 
of his family— particularly his son, Jonathan, who was born, lived 
and died on the settling lot of his father. His descendants are 
scattered over the land ; one, James Gammon, a worthy son and 
grandson, is an honored citizen in Dodge City, Kansas, and a sis- 
ter, Margaret, a former school teacher, whom the writer grate- 
fully remembers, is a widow in comfortable cicumstances in 
Eureka, California. 

William Doble and David Record had Lot. No. 9, W*. Div., 
after enough land had been added by the proprietors to make 200 
acres. They made the division themselves. Record's dwelling 
house was on the east side of the county road leading from the 
Lowell Corner, over North Hill to the village. Doble's on the 
northeast side of the river on the cross road leading from the 
Lowell Corner to the Turner road. Simon Record's lot. No. 8, 
was on this cross road. The origin of A\''illiam Doble is uncer- 
tain. Elias Taylor, elsewdiere mentioned, had heard it said that 
he had been left, while an infant, at the door of a well-to-do fam- 
ily, which had brought him up as one of their own. Many of 
his descendants at one period lived in the town of Sumner. 

John Irish, Jr., from Gorhani, came to Bucktown about 1780, 
and settled on South Hill on Lot 6, adjoining Peter A\'hite's lot 
on the south. It was afterwards known as the Henry Hutchinson 
place. He died in 1805. His estate was appraised at £1400— 
the larger part of which was real estate. 

Two of these early settlers, John \\'arren and Thomas Lowell, 
were unmarried, when they came to the township, and a romantic 
interest surrounds their early lives here. \\ arren was the son of 
Tristram Warren of Berwick, whose lot was in the vicinity of the 
river, and bordering on what is now the Sumner town line. He 
married the oldest daughter of Abijah Buck, as related elsewhere. 

Thomas Lowell was the oldest son of Stephen Lowell, who, 
with his good wife, lived with him, and whose deaths occurring 
quite near together a few years later, is mentioned elsewhere. His 
lot was No. 5 on South Hill. The romantic courtship of Thomas 
Lowell with Judith Farrar hereafter related, furnishes one of the 
most interesting and readable chapters in this history. He died 
Sept. 10, 1810, at the age of 49. The family removed to Litch- 
field, Me. 



38 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

^^'illiam Lowell, who began trade in that section of the town, 
was a younger brother. He married Margen,', a daughter of 
Elder ^^'illiam Irish, and had a remarkable family of children. 
Three of his sons were members of the ]\Iaine Senate in 1853. 
]\Iark Lowell, who died in Buckheld in 1884 at the age of 91, was 
also one of \Mlliam's sons. Polly, a daughter, married Ichabod 
Bonney of Turner. She was the mother of Hon. Percival Bonney 
of Portland, who held the position of Judge of the Superior Court 
in that city for many years. 

Lemuel Crooker's lot was Xo. 4 on South Hill. He was from 
Pembroke. His wife's name was Rachel Foster, sister of Isaac, 
whom he married Aug. 5. 1773. She was his cousin. He had 
seen service in the A\'ar for American Independence, was the lead- 
ing citizen of his section of the town and the first trader tliere. 
At the first town meeting, he was elected chairman of the board 
of selectmen and was many times re-elected. He also held other 
positions. His townsmen appear to have never lost confidence in 
him. After a time he declined to accept town office, presumably 
to pay greater attention to his business. He was a great benefi^t 
to the people of that section as was Simon Record who had a 
blacksmith shop — the first in the township — near the Lowell Cor- 
ner. 

Soon after Lemuel Crooker opened his store a road was laid 
out from the county road to the mills, called Blake's Mills in Syl- 
vester, and it became a thoroughfare for the settlers who went 
there to have their corn and rye ground. With a store, black- 
smith shop and mills so near, the people of the south part of the 
town got along very well and by their industry in a short time 
began to thrive. It appears to have been at one time the most 
prosperous section of the town. There is a tradition that Jonas 
Cobum had a store in that locality before AMUiam Lowell, and 
that he succeeded Jonathan Roberts. Jr., "'a trader." who pur- 
chased Peter White's settling lot. Coburn was a noted wrestler, 
and once a man came a great distance to try his strength and skill 
with him. Coburn happened to be away at the time, and among 
those who were present at the store was Simon Record, who, up- 
on learning the stranger's errand, ottered to take Coburn's place. 
At the set-to which followed. Record threw the fellow twice, to 
the great satisfaction of the bvstanders and the evident chaerin 



HISTORY Ol' HL'CKFIICLD 39 

of the athlete, who thereupon left without waiting for the arri\al 
of Coburn. 

There must have been considerable business to have supported 
two stores in that part of the town for the time they were in oper- 
ation. In 1812 Crooker sold his settlini^: lot to Stephen Hutchin- 
son, and closing his store, moved into Hebron where he died at 
an advanced age. Then, after some years, the channels of trade 
shifted and both the store and blacksmith shop ceased to exist, but 
in that vicinity over the town line in Hebron, a store of some kind 
has been kept unto this da}'. 



40 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER IV. 

Early Settle.mknt Coxtixued. 

In the early part of the year 1781, Nathaniel Chase, then in 
his twentieth year, with Amos Brown, his half-brother, and Daniel 
Crockett, came on snowshoes from Windham through the forest 
to Bucktown. He drew a hand sled, on which was a bushel of 
meal, an axe, a hatchet, and a gun. \\'hat the others brought, 
tradition has not informed us. Each selected a lot for settle- 
ment. Nathaniel's was known years ago as the Thomas Chase 
farm. The others took up lots in the same vicinity and north of 
the Bani Teague lot. In a year's time, Nathaniel had cleared 
twelve acres of land and built a log house, to which he moved his 
parents the next year. His father, Eleazer Chase, was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary ^^'ar. While he was in the army, the fam- 
ily was dependent upon the boy, Nathaniel. Before the long con- 
test for Independence had ended, Nathaniel also enlisted, and 
served about a year. Besides the 100 acres, which he obtained by 
being a settler in the township, prior to January i, 1784, he ac- 
quired by purchase a large number of acres of adjoining land 
(probably obtaining the lot of Daniel Crockett who appears to 
have gone away, but later returned to the township — at all events 
he acquired no settling lot.) A few years after he settled in the 
township, Nathaniel Chase was converted to the Baptist faith, and 
afterwards ordained as a preacher and became the first settled 
minister of the town. 

Joseph Chase, a younger brother of Nathaniel, born in 1769. 
acquired a settling lot. He could not at the time of his brother's 
coming have been but 12 years old, and only about 15 when the 
law went out of effect, giving 100 acres of land to actual settlers. 
He probably came with his parents and may have acquired his set- 
tling lot in place of his father, Eleazer. 

During the year 1781 occurred the first marriage in the town- 
ship. Elizabeth Buck, the oldest daughter of Abijah Buck, be- 
came the bride of John Warren. They went into the adjoining 
township of Sylvester to have the ceremony performed, for as yet 
there was no one in the settlement authorized by law to unite 
persons in marriage. A great feast was prepared for them and 
tlie invited guests on their return, at Abijah Buck's, in which 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 41 

deer and moose steak formed not the least appetizing parts of 
the viands. All the neighboring settlers with their wives and 
children, were present. It was a great event in the little settle- 
ment and long remembered. 

In the same year, William Irish and Gershom Davis from Gor- 
ham, wlio had married sisters, came into the township to select 
lots. \\'hen they left home, their wives charged them to build 
their habitations, so that each could see the other's home. Irish's 
lot was on Xorth Hill southwest of Jonathan Records'. Davis 
settled on a hill still farther southwest, overlooking the valley 
through which the railroad was afterwards located. They felled 
trees for their openings and erected their log houses as requested 
by their wives. While they were doing this work they stopped 
at John Buck's, whose wife was a relative of Irish's. The fol- 
lowing year they moved their families into their new homes. 
Roth had seen service in the Continental Army. Irish became a 
lay preacher of considerable ability and success. 

In the year 1781, came also into the township to select a lot for 
a settlement, Jacob Whitman from Easton, Mass. He had learned 
from the Record brothers about the township. He had married 
a sister of Simon's wife and probably stayed there while looking 
for a lot, clearing his land, and building his log house. He se- 
lected, at first, a lot in the northern part of the township, but one 
of the settlers advised him to look for one where the rock maples 
grew large and thrifty, as this kind of growth showed that the soil 
would be excellent corn land. He followed this advice and went 
into the extreme southern part of the town to the southwest of 
Davis' lot, and there he found rock maples growing, such as he 
had not seen elsewhere. Here, near a fine spring of water, over- 
looking the valley of Bog Brook and the hills to the east and 
northeast, he began his clearing. He was a stout and muscularly 
built man, had served several years in the War for Independence, 
and was inured to hardship. He set resolutely at work, and, in 
a few weeks' time, had several acres of trees felled and a log 
house constructed. The next June, he moved his family to their 
new home. Besides his wife, it consisted of three children. The 
youngest, Joseph, was only three months old. And when his 
wife spoke about the convenience of having a cradle for this 
infant, he went out and got a piece of hemlock bark which had 
been peeled the year before and in drying had rolled up at the 



42 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

sides. This, by a few strokes of the axe. was soon made to serve 
the purpose of a cradle. It is related that, one evening, after a 
hard day's work, he had gone to bed and fallen asleep, when he 
was suddenly awakened by his wife's calling. "Jacob ! Jacob ! 
come to the door ! I think there is a new camp-fire over on the 
hill. Do you suppose another settler has come?" He got up. 
tired as he was, wiih great interest. There had been three bef.^re 
in that direction, now there were four. After gazing awhile at 
the lights, he said. "O. yes. there is a new one there, and, I tell you 
what, Xabby, an old soldier built it. and he must be from the 
westward." (A common expression, meaning Massachusetts.) 
A\'ho this settler was is somewhat uncertain, but it was probably 
Joshua Young, who had been a soldier in the Continental Army 
and was at Bunker Hill. He came into the township in 1782, or 
1783, and settled on the eastern slope of South Hill, near the 
Turner town line. 

Jacob A\'hitman was born in Easton, Mass.. Xov. 2S. 1753. 
His father died when he was young and he was placed under 
guardianship. Perhaps he was not well used and he may have 
been very wilful. However this may be, we find him possessed 
of an adventurous spirit and ripe for the impending struggle of 
the people of the Colonies against the Mother Country. His first 
service was with the "Minute Men" of the old Commonwealth at 
the outbreak of the Revolution. He was in Capt. Daniel Lo- 
throp's company from April 10, 1775, to May 2, 1775. On the 
19th of April of that year, occurred the battles of Lexington and 
Concord. He enlisted again in the same company, in Col. Bailey's 
regiment, the next day after he was discharged, and served till 
Aug. I, 1775. On the 17th of June the battle of Bunker Hill took 
place. There is a tradition in the family that he was present in 
that famous battle, and, while on the retreat across Charleslown 
Xeck, his cartridge box was shot away, and that he turned and 
picked it up while the bullets were flying thickly around him. 

His name is on the return of the muster roll, dated at Rox- 
bury Camp, Dec. 10, 1775. "of men enlisted for the ensuing year, 
under the next establishment," Capt. Thomas Percy's Company. 
Col. Knox's Artillery Regt. He served during the Siege of 
Boston, the next year. Washington, having secured possession 
of Dorchester Heights, the British were forced to evacuate Bos- 
ton. After this, according to the records of the \\'ar Department. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 43 

he served in the Continental Army. He enlisted June 6, 1776. 
The length of service is not given. He re-enli.sted and was with 
the army in Xew York when. Stony Point was stormed and when 
Gen. John Burgoyne's army was captured near Saratoga. He was 
at home in the early part of the year 1777, for a short time, when 
he married Abigail Packard of Bridgewater. Elias Taylor said, 
in 1888, that this old Revolutionary Patriot told him that he was 
discharged from the army in Xew Jersey and, with only Conti- 
nental paper money, then considered almost worthless, he was left 
to find his way home as best he could. The people would not take 
this money in payment for food, and often he had to travel all day 
without anything to eat. At one place, he paid $40 in this cur- 
rency for a bowl of bread and milk. He came home with a pro- 
found regard for Washington, which he ever after retained, and 
bequeathed to his descendants. He settled in Bucktown, as we 
have seen, on a lot adjoining the Hebron town line, then called 
Shepardsfield. He was an industrious citizen and paid strict at- 
tention to the clearing up of his lot, rearing his family and attain- 
ing a competence. He was often selected for road surveyor, 
school agent and school committee and his name was always kept 
in the jury box until he got too old to attend to such service. He 
was a man of fierce spirit when aroused and positive in his opin- 
ions and fond of argument. The following incident, as related by 
Susan Leonard, who, in her younger days, was a school teacher 
of note in the towm and had heard it from some of the oldest of 
the good Christian people living in the Berry neighborhood, is 
characteristic : A\'hen the first Baptist Society in town was formed, 
Jacob AMiitman and his wife were solicited to join it. They had 
previously belonged to some society and were considered as 
Christians. When the creed was read over to him, he shook his 
head and said. "You may turn me off, if you choose, but I do not 
believe that. For, after much reflection upon the matter, I have 
come to the conclusion that, in some way and somehow, there will 
be a final restoration of all human souls." They took the matter 
into consideration, and, after considerable deliberation, they de- 
cided that it would do no good to argue with him, for he liked 
controversy too well and was too positive in his opinions to be 
changed but, as he was a good citizen and contributed liberally to 
the support of the church, they would leave his case with God. 



44 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Joshua Young had Lot Xo. i on the east slope of South Hill 
adjoining the Turner town line. He was originally from W'ellfleet, 
Mass., but came here from Gorham. Joshua Young was a Patriot 
of the Revolution and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was 
probably also in other engagements. It is related that, 
while on the retreat, after the redoubt was carried by 
the British, he thought of some supplies which had been 
left behind and. making the remark that they were "too 
good for the d — -d red coats ;" went back and brought 
them off at the great risk of his life, — his clothes being pierced 
with several musket balls, which had been fired at hm. He lived 
to a good old age. His settling lot has always been kept in the 
family name by his descendants. 

Dominicus Record from Easton, came into the township in 
1782. He first selected a lot as related on the river near John 
A\'arren's, but exchanged it with Benjamin Spaulding, for his lot 
in what is now the village. Record was a foundryman and mill- 
man. Had he adhered to his first selection, he would without 
doubt have erected mills at what is now North Buckfield and per- 
haps the principal center of business of the town might have been 
there. He acquired a half interest in the mills and water privi- 
leges with Edmund Chandler, of which he afterwards became the 
sole owner. In 1783 he moved his family, consisting of three 
children — his wife having died or been divorced — into the little 
place. There is a tradition that on account of domestic troubles, 
he had left a flourishing business in Massachusetts to make a new 
home in the wilds of Maine. From his coming dates the begin- 
ning of the prosperity and growth of the village. Soon after he 
married Jane \\'arren, daughter of Tristram Warren, who had 
become a settler near his son, John. By her he had three children. 

In the year 1783 Enoch Hall from ^^'indham, came to the 
township for the purpose of selecting a lot for a settlement. He 
obtained the one on tlie high land east of the river. It is the 
same which was known years ago as the \\"m. F. Robinson farm. 
It had been taken up by another, perhaps Andrew Elliott, who 
had felled 10 acres of trees and erected a log house and other 
buildings. Hall purchased the rights of this settler for $500, it is 
said. In 1784 he cleared up these ten acres and planted corn and 
200 bushels were raised. In the autumn he went to \\ indham 
for his wife. In the month of November thcv started for 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 45 

Bucktown with their household effects and some provisions on 
the backs of two horses. On their way thither, they found the 
streams swoUen from a recent rain storm. One (tradition does 
not say which) was found unlordable and it became necessary to 
construct a raft of driftwood bound together with withes to bring 
across their goods and provisions, while the horses swam over. 
^^'hen about midway of the stream, on one of the trips, the raft 
went to pieces and Hall was obliged to swim to the opposite shore. 
He lost his jacket and the provisions, saving only his shirt, 
trousers, and two dollars in money. His wife and the household 
eft"ects had been taken over previous to the accident. They ar- 
rived at their new home in Bucktown on his 21st birthday. With 
the two dollars he bought two sheep. After shearing time the 
next year his wife wove a piece of cloth from which she made 
him a suit of clothes. In 1780 he built a barn, covering it with 
"long shingles" made by himself. It was a rule of his life after 
he got started to buy nothing he could not pay for. The only 
school he ever attended was taught at his own house by Elder 
Daniel Hutchinson. The term was three weeks in length. His 
three oldest children and himself were the pupils. During this 
time he gained some knowledge of arithmetic and learned to write. 
He was a natural mathematician and from this small beginning he 
educated himself from such books as he could procure, and be- 
came cjualified in after years to transact business and teach his 
younger children. In nine years from the time he moved into 
his log house, his family occupied a comfortable frame house, and 
he was in easy circumstances. During the last few years of his 
life, he suffered much from a disease of the stomach, which 
proved to be the cause of his death Dec. 10, 1835. Enoch Hall 
was one of the principal men in town of his day. For several 
years he served as Buckfield's representative in the General Court 
at Boston, was a member of the convention in 1819 that framed 
the Constitution for this State, and was the first representative 
from the town in the Legislature. His name is ])erpetuated in 
"Hall's Bridge." 

Samuel Taylor from Pembroke, settled in the township prior 
to Jan. I, 1784. His lot was west of Jacob Whitman's on the 
Hebron town line. His habitation was built within a- very few 
rods of Whitman's, and both families used water from the same 
spring. Taylor had served in both the old French and Indian 



46 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

A\'ar and the Revolution and was well along in rears when he 
came to the township. He appears to have been the wit and 
fhynister of the original settlers. Some of his savings were very 
witty, while others "bit like a serpent and stung like an adder.'" 
A story is told of him about an adventure which he had with 
James Rider's wife, who was believed by many people to be a 
witch. A man named Keen averred that she had once asked him 
for one of two partridges, which he had shot. He told her that 
he had no more than his own family wanted. She immediately 
pronounced a curse upon him and told him that he would never 
be able to shoot another bird. He said that he had tried several 
times to do so, but could not bring down the game — no doubt the 
effect of her words upon his nerves. Taylor, howe^•er, had no 
faith in her supernatural powers. It is related that, while making 
a journey on horseback, he had to put up for the night at Rider's 
house. He was urged to make a rhyme for the family. Though 
reluctant at first, he finally consented, with the proviso that half 
of it should be given that night, and the other half in the morning 
before he went away. The first half of his rhyme ran thus : 
"The children of Israel wanted bread and the Lord gave them 
manna;" after he had mounted his horse to depart the next 
morning, he was reminded that the rhyme had not been com- 
pleted. He promptly finished it as follows : " Jeems Rider 
wanted a wife and the devil sent him Hannah." She started for 
him with uplifted broom and eyes blazing with wrath, but he put 
spurs to his horse and was soon out of sight and hearing. 

Daniel Packard from Bridgewater, first settled in what proved 
to be, after the lines were run, the town of Hebron. While there 
his daughter, Betsey, was born — the first female child in the 
township. He afterwards selected a lot north of Taylor's on 
which he built a log house, where he moved his family before 
January 1,1784. 

The others who acquired settling lots here prior to that date 
of whom no mention has been made, are David \\ arren, Joel 
Rich, Ezra Brown, John Irish, Joseph Irish, Jonathan Roberts, 
Joseph Roberts. Jr.. Caleb Young and Jonah Forbes. 

David AX'arren settled west of Jonathan Record's towards the 
pond, and adjoining Gershom Davis', which proved to be on the 
same lot as Record. He came from the vicinity of Falmouth 
and had sened for a period in the Continental Army. It is not 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 47 

known what relationship, if any, he was to John Warren. He 
appears to have been an able man. After residing in Buckfield 
many years, he removed to Hartford, where he was a selectman, 
deputy sheriff and a representative to the General Court. 

Joel Rich from Gorham, Me., settled on what in recent years 
has been known as the Lowell farm. He, too, had been a soldier 
in the Continental Army. He was the son of Lemuel and Lliz- 
abeth (Harding) Rich who came from Truro, Mass., to Gorham 
in 1762. They had a large family of children, among whom was 
Joel, born about 1757. He married Elizabeth Gates. Rich sold 
his settling lot to James ALinwell in 1795 and removed to Brooks 
or vicinity. 

Ezra Brown of Windham, a brother of Amos, had a settling 
lot in Bucktown. No mention is made of him in the earlier 
transactions relating to the purchase and settlement of the town- 
ship. He was a prominent citizen in his town of Windham as 
early as 1783 when he was elected one of the selectmen, a posi- 
tion he held for many consecutive years. For this reason he 
could not have been a resident of Bucktown for the same period, 
yet he had a settling lot. No. 35, in the southeast part of the town, 
which we think he must have acquired by purchase and probably 
from Asa Thurlo. He was afterward taxed as a non-resident 
for land in the eastern part of the town for several years. Ezra 
Brown was elected as a representative to the General Court from 
Windham, where he died in 1826, "aged 76." 

John Irish, the oldest son of James Irish, the American an- 
cestor w^ho came from England about 17 10 and settled at Fal- 
mouth, now Portland, was born there April 13, 1724. He, with 
his wife. Sarah, settled in Gorham, Me., about 1750. Fourteen 
years later "he owned 50 acres of land in the back part of that 
town on a cross road." John Irish saw much service as a scout 
in the Indian wars. He was a member of Capt. Dominicus Jor- 
dan's "Snowshoe" company in the early part of 1744. He par- 
ticipated in the siege of Louisburg when it was captured bv the 
colonial troops. In Capt. John Phinney's company he served as 
Sergeant in 1759. John Irish was in the Continental forces at 
the surrender of Quebec. His children were all grown up prior 
to his taking up a settler's lot near his son-in-law, John Buck, on 
North Hill in Bucktown in 1783. The family seems to have 
alternately lived in Bucktown and Gorham. In 1789 "in the 14th 



48 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

year of American Independence" he sold his setthng lot to John 
Buck for £60. 

Joseph Irish of Gorliam. a brother of John, senior, bom April 
12, 1728, was a soldier in the old French and Indian War and the 
\\'ar for Independence. He married Hannah Doane in 1753. 
His family had all grown up prior to his settling in Bucktown. 
His lot, which adjoined the Turner town line, he sold to his son, 
Ebenezer Irish, in 1802. There is no mention of his name on the 
census lists of 1800. We find under the record of the offspring 
of Ebenezer Irish and his wife, Bathsheba, this entry: "'Mr. 
Joseph Irish, died April 14, 1808." His name disappeared from 
the tax lists of the town in 1801. 

Jonathan Roberts, who settled at what was afterwards called 
''Federal Corner," was bom in Xew Hampshire about 1746. He 
was probably a descendant of Thomas Roberts, who came from 
England with his wife, Rebecca, and settled in Dover, X'. H.. in 
1633, and was colonial governor for a short time. This Thomas 
had two sons, one of whom was the sheriit who whipped the 
Quakers out of town "at the cart tail." The father, becoming 
converted to that faith, afterwards arose in church and asked the 
pardon of God for having such a son. It is said that the poet 
Whittier was a descendant of this sheriff. Many of this family 
name adopted the Quaker faith. Jonathan Roberts married, in 
1768, Elizabeth ^^'ebb of Windham. He enlisted in the Conti- 
nental Army and is said to have been at Bunker Hill. Jonathan 
appears to have been a man of considerable ability and a leading 
citizen of his section of the town. 

Joseph Roberts. Jr., a nephew of Jonathan Roberts, was born 
in Brentwood, X. H., Feb. 6, 1756. He was the oldest son of 
Joseph and Hannah (Young) Roberts. He enlisted at Cape 
Elizabeth. May 15, 1775, in the Continental service, having run 
away for that purpose. His father went to take him back home, 
but was persuaded to enter the army himself. Both are said to 
have been at Bunker Hill, where they fought at the "rail fence." 
The son was at Copps Hill, when the British were forced to e\ ac- 
uate Boston. He was at Fort George and Fort Edward, and also 
in the Penobscot Expedition. His service, at different periods, 
extended through five years. He settled on a lot, on what is now 
the road from Federal Corner to the Chase neighborhood. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 49 

In 1818 he was granted a pension of $8, but was dropped 
from the rolls in 1820. He was restored by act of June 7, 1832, 
at $76.66 per year, coniniencino- March 4, 1831. He married 
Esther Hamlin in 1777 and settled in Bucktown before Ian. i. 
1784. In 1799, he went to Washington Plantation, now Brooks, 
Ale., and was the first settler in that township. He built the first 
mill there, was a natural mechanic and manufactured bowls, 
mortars, etc. Some of his dishes are still preserved among his 
descendants. Mr. Roberts was promised 500 acres of land from 
Gen. Knox for building the mill, but he never obtained the land. 
He was industrious, frugal, upright, moral, and a Christian man. 
He was twice married. By his first wife he had 12 children and 
12 more by his second wife. His grandchildren numbered 157. 
He died in Brooks, Jan. 10, 1843, aged nearly 87. 

Caleb Young from Windham was also a Revolutionary soldier. 
He may have been a brother of Joshua. The two names are sug- 
gestive of the two great leaders of the hosts of Israel at an im- 
portant period of Jewish history. Caleb settled on what was 
known, thirty years ago, as the Ozias DeCoster farm. Joshua's 
lot was on Sylvester township line in the southeastern part of the 
town. It is related of Caleb that, at one time, he endeavored to 
cross, with a yoke of oxen, the bridge below the village which 
from a recent freshet had become unsafe. His cattle broke 
through and he cjuickly cut them loose from the load and, with 
great difficulty, saved them and himself by swimming ashore. 
The tradition is that the town authorities made him pay damages 
for breaking through the bridge. 

Jonah Forbes, of Easton, AJass., was born in the year 1741. 
He was one of the "Minute Men" and served in the Continental 
Army and was at the battle of Monmouth. He settled in Buck- 
town about 1783 on Lot No. 8, East Division. He was 79 years 
old in 1820, when he made an affidavit in the Court of Common 
Pleas, relating to his property, which was then recjuired of those 
pensioned under the Act of 1818. Tradition says that when he 
came home from the war he had a large quantity of Continental 
money and wore an officer's cap. He was a powerfully built man. 

The men whose names have been mentioned in the foregoing 
pages, as acc{uiring settling lots of 100 acres free, prior to Jan. 1, 
1784, were forty-seven in number. Their lots were not laid out 
and numbered till long after thev had made their clearings and 



50 HISTORY OF BL'CKFfELD 

erected habitations. By an entry in Abijah Buck's d^ary, it ap- 
pears that this work was completed in 1789. It must have been 
a difficult problem, in some cases, to run out the exact number 
of acres required for each lot and include in it the settler's im- 
provements. In two instances, the proprietors "found"' two set- 
tlers on the same lot. In other words, they could not make a 
satisfactory division, so they added enough from contiguous land 
belonging to the proprietors, to contain 200 acres, and left the 
settlers to make the division themselves. The work of laving out 
the lots appears to have been done as well as could reasonably be 
expected under the circumstances. 

The chief interest in the early history of the town must cen- 
ter in these 47 settlers and their families, for they must be re- 
garded as the founders of the town. How they lived and what 
they accomplished, we shall endeavor, as far as possible, to relate. 

Twelve (and if we count Daniel Crockett and Asa Thurlo, 
fourteen) of them, disposed of their settling lots and went else- 
where. One died before the deed of his lot was executed. Of 
the remaining number who passed the last years of their lives 
here, one lived to be over 104, three others over 90, nine others 
over 80, and five others over 70 years of age. Eight served in the 
old fVench and Indian War. Thirty-two are known to have 
been in the Continental Army. Their service represented all the 
important engagements in those great contests, from Braddock's 
defeat to the capture of Quebec, and from Bunker Hill to York- 
town. On fields of blood they served their country well. In 
peace, they founded a model little commonwealth. Honor and 
srlorv to their memories, evermore. 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 51 

CHAPTER V. 

Pioneer Life. 

\\'hat would we not give for a glimpse of any one of the clear- 
ings of these early settlers, with its log house and other primitive 
structures — the father, busy at his labor of "junking," planting, 
or harvesting; the mother hard at work at the loom, and the 
children playing about the door? 

\\'e may well conceive that, after the period of their greatest 
privations, and prosperous days had come, gatherings at certain 
places in each little neighborhood, on the long winter evenings, 
were frequent, with the great open fireplace piled high with the 
blazing logs and sending its cheerful heat and light into every 
corner. If at Thomas Allen's, they would perhaps be listening to 
his songs or stories of adventure and life in old England. 

If at Abijah Buck's, of stories of the Indians and incidents 
of his army life in the French and Indian War. Mrs. Rebecca 
Tyler, Mrs. Buck's mother, must have told, many times, the story 
of Hannah Dustin's escape from the Indians, who were carrying 
her away into captivity. It was related to Rev. Paul Coffin, in 
1800, when on a missionary tour among the towns in this section. 

W'hat is more probable at Benjamin Spaulding's, than that 
hunting exploits and incidents of the chase were often discussed? 

A\'e know pretty accurately, from the many stories which have 
come down to us, what the gatherings were in the Whitman 
neighborhood. All were old Revolutionary soldiers and all, ex- 
cept one, serious and stern men. Samuel Taylor was given to 
the making of rhymes and to levity. And ''Aunt Betty" Pack- 
ard, too ! What could she not tell of her native land, her voyage 
to America, and life in the army? We may well conceive that 
the stores and blacksmith shops drew together the men and older 
boys, who discussed the affairs of the township, state and nation. 

Many a candidate for town office was selected in Lemuel 
Crooker's store. The project of laying out a comity road from 
the southeast part of the town to "Jay Point" was started in Will- 
iam Lowell's store. At a later period, Larnard Swallow's black- 
smith shop in the northwest part of the town was a noted place 
for the town politicians of his section. 

And what solemn gatherings their religious meetings must 
have been! They were a God-fearing people, and the Bible, 



52 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

their great book of the law. Before the mills were built, the early 
settlers had to go to New Gloucester, or to Blake's ]^lills, now 
Turner village, to get their corn and grain ground They went 
for several years to the former place for such articles as salt and 
molasses, and often, while carrying home on their backs, their 
bags of corn meal or rye. they would have in either hand a jug of 
molasses and a box or bag of salt. The long journey was by 
spotted trees. 

One writing of the methods pursued by the early pioneers in 
this part of the state says : 

"The common course of proceeding ^\•ith beginners was first 
to cut down the trees on five or six acres of land the first year, 
burn the ground over the next spring, plant with corn and build 
a log house. Then cut down more trees, move the family in be- 
fore harvest and live for a year, principally on corn meal food 
and such meat as the gun and fishing pole furnished. The third 
year, besides corn, raise wheat and beans and build a small barn. 
The fourth year raise hay and rye. By this time, the settler was 
in a way to live comfortably. After living in a log house for 
seven years, if he prospered, he would be able to build a frame 
house and be called an old settler. All who had nothing better 
than a log house were, by custom, bound to give a new settler two 
weeks" accommodation and board when moving in." 

Xo particular method was adopted in Buckfield. In every 
section there were places where new settlers were accustomed to 
go and stay, not for two, only, but for many weeks until lots 
were selected and suitable habitations constructed. There were 
several such havens of refuge in the southern part of the town. 

Elias Taylor, before mentioned, for a large part of his life, 
resided in the town of Hebron, which he at one time represented 
in the legislature of the state, but. during his old age, he came 
back to Buckfield to live and die. He delighted to tell about see- 
ing, wdien a boy, the new settlers with their families as they 
came into town, and particularly, of Joseph Lothrop and his fam- 
ily from Bridgewater, Alass. They were made welcome at Jacob 
^^'hitman's. One of the daughters became his wife. The early 
settlers were noted for their hospitality. They delighted to see 
the new comers moving in and did everything they could to make 
them comfortable while their new homes were being prepared for 
occupancy. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFiI'LD 53 

Although of a later period, tlie following from the diary of 
an Oxford County settler will he of interest, as it shows the man- 
ner of "getting on" in the early da\'s : 

]\Iar. 23d Arrived with my family at my house. Hauled 
two loads of goods and returned to ]\linot. 

]\lar. 24th Set out from Minot with ni}- two hogs, 
^lar. 25th Arrived home. Aly l)rother moved from my 
house to his own. 

Mar. 26th Got 2I bushels corn from a neighbor and sent 
l bushel to mill. 

]\Iar. 27th At work on my house. 
J\lar. 30th Made 22 sap troughs. 
j\Iar. 3 1 si Alade plank to finish out my floor. 
April 1st Set one glass window. Began to catch sap. 
April 3d Set another glass window. 
April 4th Bot. f bush. corn. 

April sth Bot. peck of wheat and one of rye and carried 
them to mill. 

April 6th Began junking my felled trees. ( Junking is cut- 
ting off logs from fallen trees of such lengths as to be easilv 
handled and rolled together in piles for burning. ) W'e received 
the first visit from women. 
April ~th Junking. 
Fast day. 

Snow storm, 1 1 inches fell. 
Lopping limbs among my burnt trees. 
Junking and piling the rest of the week. 
Burned the brush around my house. 
April 28th and 29th Felling trees for my neighbors. 

Set fire to our opening and had quite a good burn. 
Piling brands. 
Rain storm. It had been \'ery dry. Made a 

Bot. a bushel seed corn. 

Planting. 
June 1 2th Finished planting corn. 
June 15th Fencing the opening. 
June 1 6th .\t work for a neighbor for a pig. 
June 17th and iSth Felling trees. 
June 2ist Brot. mv cow and calf from father's. 



April 


Sth 


April 


loth 


April 


13th 


April 


14th 


April 


22d 


April 


28th 


^lay 


3'1 


^lav 


4th 


^lay 


13th 


table. 




^lay 


24th 


June 


1st 



'I 



54 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

June 22nd flaking cow yard and pig pen. 

June 29th and 30th Felling trees. 

July 5th Had a neighbor work for me telling trees and paid 
him in pork. 

July 1 2th Hoeing corn. 

July 14th Finished felling trees. 

July 17th Finished hoeing corn. 

Jul}^ 25th \\'ent to Xew Gloucester. 

July 29th Digging a water spring. 

July 30th and 31st Unwell. 

Aug. 5th Laid the foundation for my chimney. 

Aug. 6th Peeled bark for a chamber floor. 

Aug. loth \\'ent to a lecture at Mr. Hutchinson's. 

April 30th Went to mill. 

Sept. 1st Weeding my corn. 

Sept. 5th \\>nt to meeting at ^Ir. V\'hitman's. 

Sept. 6th Began falling trees to lay over the season. 

Sept. 8th A\'ent to mill. 

Sept. 1 2th Sunday. \\'ent to meeting. Heard Deacon 
Packard and old Air. \Miitman. 

Sept. 2 1 St Began cutting stalks. 

Oct. 5t]i and 6th Digging and covering cellar drain. 

Oct. 7th Digging potatoes. Had 40 bushels. Put them in 
cellar. 

Oct. 9th Banking up house. 

Oct. I2th, 13th, i4th and 15th Gathering com. 

Oct. 18th At work in cellar. 

Oct. 19th, 20th and 21st Gathering pumpkins. 

Oct. 22d Went to mill and had first new corn ground. 

Oct. 27th Went to meeting and heard Mr. Tripp. 

Oct. 28th Went to two neighbors and brot. home two 
kittens. 

Xov. 2d Finished gathering corn — raised about 60 bushels. 

Xov. 4th, 5th and 6th At work in my cellar. 

Xov. 9th and loth Building an oven. 

X^ov. nth Baked in it. 

X'ov. 14th Sunday. 

X'ov. i8th Got a number of trees at Mr. Packard's and set 
theiTi out. 

X'ov. I ^th At work on chimnev. 



V 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 55 

Xov. I9tli Went to Afinot. 

Dec. I'it to 4th At work on the road. 

Dec. 6th Killed my two 1k>2:s. They weighed about 450 lbs. 

Dec. 1 2th Sunday. W'er.t to meeting. 

Dec. 13th Topped out chimney. 

Dec. 14th Went to mill. 

Dec. 1 6th Hauling barn logs. 

Dec. i~th Severe cold morning. 

Dec. 1 8th \\'eather moderates. 

Dec. 20th to 25th At work on barn. 

Dec. 27th Hauled in my loom. 

The log houses of the earl}- settlers at first generally con- 
sisted of one room below, which served for kitchen, dining-room 
and sleeping room ; and one above this, reached by a ladder where 
the children slept and where the ears of corn were often piled 
after husking. The roofs of the houses were made of strips of 
liemlock bark, or of pine, or cedar. The doors were of hewed 
plank, hung on wooden hinges and fastened by a large wo-iden 
latch on the inside. A stout hempen cord was attached to the 
latch and ran through a hole to the outside. At night and in 
times of alarms, this string was drawn in, thus preventing any 
one on the outside from opening the door. A stout hardwood 
bar could be fixed across the door to make it further secure. It 
was the boast of 5ome, liowever, that the latch strings to their 
doors were always out. 

There were no glass windows for several years after the first 
settlers came. Oiled i:)aper supplied the jjlace of glass when the 
houses were built, places being left in the walls for the introduc- 
tion of light. The oiled j)aper was fixed over these apertures. 
Pieces of wood, hewed to the right dimensions, were placed in 
slides to cover these places at night or in stormy and cold 
weather. The foundations for chimneys were of stone cemented 
with clay. From the second door the walls were constructed of 
sticks of split woc'd laid "cob fashion" and the spaces between 
were filled with clay or mud. The floor when not of hewed 
plank was the bare groun.d made smooth and hard by the con- 
stant tread of feet and kept neat and clean by the housewife's 
broom made from twigs or of ash wood pounded into strips of 
the r'ght length. Tlie great fire])laces were among tlie liest 



56 HISTORY OF BLTKFIELD 

features of these habitations. They wers built to take in large 
sticks. Stones of the right size and shape were placed on each 
side for the great "back log" and the "forestick" between which 
the fire was made. Chairs, bottomed with basket stuff, for the 
older members of the family and visitors, and wooden stools for i 
the younger ones furnished the seats. Over the fireplace hung ■ 
the old flint-lock gun. a very essential thing in those days. 
^Mthin the fireplace hung the crane to hold the pots and kettles 
in which food was cooked by boiling, while nearby, on the wall, 
shelves were constructed for the tin, pewter and wooden ware, 
close to which hung the knife-basket. In this room, also, was the 
spinning wheel and often the loom. The clothing of the first 
settlers was made from flax and wool. Every settler had his 
field of flax. The instrument to dress it and make it into cloth 
every family possessed. Sheep, as well as jMgs and cows, were 
among the first essential domestic animals. 

To prepare the flax and wool for making into cloth, with, ev- 
erything else to do, made every habitation a hive of industry. A 
shoemaker, called a cordwainer. went around from house to 
house and made or mended the shoes and boots for the family. 
The road between one settler's home and another's was a path 
cut through the forest and called a bridle road. As the country 
became more settled, trees were cut down, stumps and rocks re- 
moved, low places filled up and streams bridged. Sunday was 
observed as a sacred day and meetings were hel I at the larger 
houses and most convenient places, where all the people old and 
young in the vicinity were expected to be present unless sickness 
or infirmity prevented. Lay preachers or those gifted in ex- 
hortation and prayer conducted the services. The necessity for 
schooling was very early felt but it is probable that for many 
years for one to master the "three R's. "Reading, 'Riting and 
'Rithmetic," was considered tantamount to having acquired a 
liberal education. 

It is customary in modern times to speak of the life of the 
early settlers as one of hardsh'ps and afllictions and devoid of 
comfort. We do not share in this view. For the first few years 
doubtless this was true but starting, as the most of them did, 
with b:it few of this world's goods and possessions, they went 
into the wilderness with the hope that by industry and frugality 
they would acquire not only home? but a competence. And in 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIHLD 57 

the acquiring" ot these, there is Httle doulit tliat t'ney enjoyed a 
degree of happiness fully equal to that of the people of the town 
to-day. From all that we can learn it had been bruited abroad 
that the tract of country, embraced in what is now the town of 
Buckfield, was the poor man's Canaan and poor men came in 
great numbers. A few after staying awhile went away to other 
localities. Some were disappointed, as might have been ex- 
pected, and left the township without doing much in the way of 
bettering their condition. But others came, like the Pilgrims, 
with no thought of turning back. They determined to pass 
the rest of their days here and accomplish wliat they could. 
They succeeded, some more than others — as will always be the 
case — the result of which is the good old town with its many 
happy homes and its intelligent and moral people and which has 
been the mother of so many able and eminent men. 



58 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



CHAPTER \7. 
Purchase of Township. 

During the year 1779, as appears by the diary of Abijali 
Buck, the first efl'ort was made to purchase the township. He 
had succeeded in getting several inlluential men and others be- 
sides those already settled here, interested in his plans, among 
whom were Col. Ebenezer Bancroft and Samuel Butterfield of 
Dunstable, Mass. They were from the same section of the old 
Commonwealth from which the Bucks came. He states that a 
meeting was held and the sum of $280 in jiaper money, worth 
18 shillings and 8 pence were contributed towards the expense of 
getting up the petition and going to Boston to present it to the 
General Court. Pie further states that he himself went to Samuel 
Freeman, Esquire, in Yarmouth, who drew it up and that he 
there signed it. Also that he went to Boston in April, 1780, and. 
while there, settled with Bancroft and Butterfield and paid them 
a small balance which was their due. 

His petition could not be found in the archives of the Secre- 
tary of the Commonwealth at Boston but where it should have 
been was the following which undoubtedly accompanied it : 

"Mr. Abijah Buck, 

Sir:- — please to enter our names to your Petition for a tract of land, 
in the State of Massachusetts Bay, in the county of Cumberland, lying to 
the Westward of Sylvester and to the Northward of land granted to Mr. 
Alexander Shepard, to the value of five or six miles square and you will 
oblige us 3-our humble Servants. 



Isaac Foster 
Bani Teague 
Jonathan Record 
Simon Record 
Richard Derburn 
Joshua Ripley 
Silas Coburn 
Ebenezer Bancroft 
Samuel Merrill 
Henry Butterfield 
Nathaniel IngersoU 
Edmun Chandler 
John Buck 
William Wigery 
Jabez Cushman 
Samuel Butterfield 
Samuel Freeman 



Jonathan Tyler 
William Hutchinson 
Jacob Cram 
Benjamin Spaulding 
Jonas Coburn 
Nathaniel Buck 
Ebenezer Bancroft, 
John Brown 
Andrew Elliott 
Thomas Allen 
Thomas Coburn 
John Buck 
David Record 
John Warren 
John Irish 
Lemuel Crocker 
Davis Thurlo 



Jr. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



59 



Moses Butterfield 
Joseph Fletcher 
Samuel Butterfield, Jr. 
Thomas Lowell 
John Thurlo 
Asa Thurlo 
Hezekiah Stetson 



Nathaniel Gammon 
Jonathan Philbrick 
James Thurlo 
Richard Thurlo 
William Doble 
Peter White 
John Brown.'' 



There is no date lo this paper, but on th.c back of it are the 
following indorsements : 

'"Petition of a number of persons for a tract 
of land back of Sylvester." 

"Samuel IJutterfiekls." 
"Supposed 1780." 

It will be noted that tliis paper contains the names of men 
who settled in what are now the towns of Sumner and Hartford 
and some were never settlers in this region. It will also be seen 
that it contained the names of two John Bucks and two John 
Browns. The petition and this paper accompanying it, no doubt, 
were presented to the General Court by Samuel Butterfield. 
Xothing came of it at this time at least. 

In the autumn of 1780 the efl'ort to purchase the township 
was renewed. \\"e foimd the petition printed in a newspaper 
which had been furnished it by one who had formerly been an 
official in the Archives Department at the State House at Boston 
and is as follows : 



"TO THE Honorable Senate and Honorable, the House of Representa- 
tives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts : 

The petition of Abijah Buck for himself and others, humbly shews 
— That he has with a ntimber of other Persons, whose names, are tipon 
the paper, accompanying this Petition, entered upon a Tract of Land, 
belonging to this State, in the Cotintj- of Cumberland, to the westward of 
Sylvester Town and to the northward of Land lately granted to Mr. 
Alexander Sheppard — That considering very little advantage could possi- 
bly accrue to the ptiblic, from an uncultivated wilderness, and on the con- 
trarj^, that the wealth of a community, is in a great measure increased, by 
subduing the Lands thereof, and preparing them to produce the neces- 
saries of Life for its inhabitants, and being under necessitous circum- 
stances, they have made considerable Improvements, upon the said Tract 
of Land, and built small cottages thereupon, in humble expectation, that 
the Government wotild quiet them, in their possessions, and encourage 
them to persevere in their industry. 



60 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



They have most of them served their country as soldiers in the pres- 
ent War, and are still ready to risque their Lives for its Defense, and as 
far as they are able, to contribute to its support, and as they have re- 
moved from several parts of the State, to this remote part of it, in order 
to procure a subsistence and as a band of Brothers, are united to pro- 
mote the Publick, as well as each others welfare, — not one of whom to 
your Petitioners knowledge, being tinctured, with the despicable Prin- 
ciples of a Tory, they humbly Pray, that your Honors, would so far in- 
terrupt your attention, to the more publick concerns, which are doubtless 
dail}^ pressing upon 30U, as to order this Petition, to be committed for 
consideration, and if consistent, with the Rules of Policy, that your 
Honors would grant them a Township where the}- have settled as afore- 
mentioned, upon such terms and conditions, as your Honors shall deem 
just and reasonable, and your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray. 

Dec. 25 1780. 



Abijah Buck 
Andrew Elliott 
Thomas Allen 
Thomas Coburn 
John Buck 
David Record 
Samuel Butterfleld, 
John Warren 
I..emuel Crooker 
Davis Thurlo 
Nathaniel Gammon 
Jona Philbrick 
Thomas Lowell 
Richard Thurlo 
John Thurlo 
Henry Butterfleld 
Wm. Doble 
Asa Thurlo 
Peter White 
Hezekiah Stetson 
Moses Buck 
John Irish 
John Brown 
Bani Teague 
Simon Record 



Jr. 



Joseph Fletcher 
John Brown 
Joshua Ripley 
Silas Coburn 
Samuel Merrill 
Nathaniel Ingersoil 
Samuel Butterfleld 
Edmund Chandler 
John Buck 
William Wigery 
Jabez Cushman 
Moses Butterfleld 
Jonathan Tyler 
Ebenezer Bancroft 
William Hutchinson 
Jacob Cram 
Benjamin Spaulding 
Jonas Coburn 
Nathaniel Buck 
Ebenezer Bancroft, Jr. 
James Thurlo 
Samuel Freeman 
Isaac Foster 
Jonathan Record 
Richard Derburn." 



It seems to have soon occurred to Butterfield and Bancroft 
that they with others might acquire a tract of land as large as that 
which Abijah Buck and those particularly interested with him 
were striving- to obtain and adjoining it on the North. This was 
no doubt satisfactory to all concerned. The petition of Samuel 
Butterfield and his associates for the purchase of this new tract is 
dated January 24, 1781. It will be seen that the statement was 
made in the second Buck petition that the signers had built small 
houses upon the tract which they wished to purchase and had 



HISTORY OF P.UCKFIELD 61 

made considerable improvements thereon. Also, that the greater 
part of the petitioners had been in the Continental Army. The 
first statement could not be literally true as to all of them per- 
sonally, for some were never actual settlers. 

This petition was not then acted upon. At a later period it 
was determined that no more townships should be sold or granted 
till surveys had been made and Ijoundaries established. We find 
the record of no other petition and it may be that this one was 
laid aside to be acted on when the township should be surveyed. 
This survey was made in 1785 by one John Jordan, or Jardinc, 
as his name was sometimes spelled. 

The intervening years were ones of discouragement for Abi- 
jah I'uck and many times he is found going to consult several 
parties to obtain advice. In the early part of the year 1786, he 
went to Boston and was gone from home twenty-seven days. 
This time he accomplished his purpose. A purcliase was made 
of the township at two shillings per acre, but in this sale every 
one who had settled here prior to Jan. i, 1784 was protected in 
his lOO-acre lot to be laid out l)y the proprietors "'so as best to 
include his improvements." Buck came home in triumph but as 
he says in his diary "most tired out." 

There were a number in tlie township who had come in after 
January i, 1784, and before the purchase was effected. These 
were treated by the proprietors as mere squatters and trespassers 
and some of them were driven awa}' without much concern as 
the proprietor's records show. The General Court's Committee 
appears to have taken no interest in protecting them in their hold- 
ings and the "Betterments Act" would not apply to their case. 
Though the proprietors did not receive their deed till 1788, they 
immediately went to selling lots and giving deeds to purchasers. 
When Butterfield and Bancroft decided to give up the plan of 
working with Abijah Buck, he secured otliers. 

Some of the proprietors were undoubtedly possessed of 
means. The enterprise proved a success. They probably did 
not get very rich out of the speculation but the three chief men 
in it who were residents of the township, Abijah Buck, Benja- 
min Spaulding and Dominicus Record, became very well-to-do 
and able to provide handsomely for their children and leave a 
competence for their old age. 



62 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The deed was executed by Samuel Phillips, Jr., Xath'l Wells 
and Leonard Jarvis appointed by the General Court for the pur- 
pose, the 13th day of November, 1788 and acknowledged before 
Samuel Cooper, Justice of the Peace, on the 25th of the same 
month. The consideration named was 1732 pounds, 17 shillings 
and 10 pence in "consolidated notes" of the Commonwealth. 
The grantees were: Abijah Buck, 9 parts; Benjamin Spaulding, 
6 parts ; Nathaniel Buck, 4 parts ; John Brown, 2 parts ; Thomas 
Allen, I part ; Edmund Chandler, 2 parts ; John Buck, 2 parts ; 
John A\'arren, 2 parts ; Thomas Coburn, i part, yeomen ; Domini- 
cus Record, gentleman, 4 parts ; Jonathan Tyler, millwright, i 
part — all of Bucktown, and ]\loses ^Merrill Esq., 2 parts ; Jabez 
Cushman, 2 parts and Ebenezer Lane, i part, yeomen, all of New 
Gloucester and Asa Lewis, 2 parts of North Yarmouth, yeoman, 
"making in the whole 41 parts." 

The land conveyed was bounded and described as follows : 
"A tract of land lying in the County of Cumberland known by 
the name of Bucktown or No. 5 as the same was surveyed by 
John Jordan, A. D., 1785, containing about 20,033 acres includ- 
ing Ponds, etc. Beghining at the N. W. corner of Shepardsfield 
(Hebron) and running S. 70° E. 5 miles and about 190 rods un- 
til it strikes Sylvester Canada (Turner) : Thence N. 26° E. by 
said line 5 miles and about loo.-rods until it strikes the S. E. cor- 
ner of No. 6 or Butterfield (Hartford): Thence S. 81^ W. 
about 8 miles and 200 rods to the E. line of No. 4 (Paris) : 
Thence by said line S. 13° E. to the place begun at." The deed 
reserved 200 acres for the ministry, 200 acres for the first settled 
minister, 200 acres for the future disposition of the state, 280 
acres for a grammar school and 4 lots of 100 acres each sold to 
Ichabod Thayer and 2 lots of 100 acres each sold to Seth Nelson, 
both grantees of ]\Iilford, ]^Iass., February, 1787. These lots 
were in the first and second divisions. Tlie most important res- 
ervation was that of 100 acres each to the following persons who 
(except Ezra Brown) had settled in the township prior to Jan. i, 
1784 "to be laid out so as to include such settlers, improve- 
ments," etc. 

Benjamin Spaulding, Abijah Buck, Thomas Allen, John 
Brown, Nathaniel Buck, Jonathan Tyler, John Warren, Edmund 
Chandler, Dominicus Record, Isaac Foster, Jonathan Philbrick, 
James Thurlo, John Irish. Jonas Coburn, John Buck, Thomas 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 63 

Coburn, David Record, Jonathan Record, William Irish, Wni. 
Doble, Xathaniel Gammon, Simon Record, Peter \\'hite, Joel 
Rich, John Irish, Jr.. Davis Thurlo, Ezra !5ro\vn, Thomas Lowell, 
John Thurlo, Lemuel Crooker, Richard Thurlo, Joseph Irish, 
Joshua Young, Gershom Davis, Samuel Taylor, Jacob Whitman, 
Joseph Chase, Baiii Teague, Amos lirown, Joseph Roberts, Jr., 
Jonah Forbes, Caleb Young, Jonathan Roberts, Enoch Mall, Na- 
thaniel Chase, David ^^'arren and Daniel Paclcard. 

The settlers individually did not procure their deeds from the 
Commonwealth at this time. Some did not receive theirs for 
more than a dozen years after and they were not generally re- 
ceived singly but this made no dili'erence as the state's committee 
gave no boundaries to the lOO acres conveyed but left the propri- 
etors to run out the lots with the provision oniy, that each should 
be laid out so as best to include the settler's improvements. Abi- 
jah Buck, Benjamin Spaulding, Dominicus Record, Xathaniel 
Buck, John Brown, John Tyler, Thomas .Allen, Thomas Coburn. 
John \\'arren, Edmund Chandler and Jonas Coburn procured a 
deed to them of their lots Alay 2"/, 1789. The consideration 
named was i6£ los "specie." Thomas Lowell, Caleb Young, 
Enoch Hall, John Thurlo, David Record, Jonathan Record and 
David Warren their deed in Alarch, 1791, consideration io£ io,y; 
Isaac Foster, Alarch 8, 1792, consideration i£ \\s. 4 d. ; Jonathan 
Philbrick, Alarch 25, 1793, consideration \i 13^.; Joel Rich, Feb. 
4, 1795, consideration $6.50. Richard and Davis Thurlo and 
heirs of James Thurlo, Feb. 9, 1796, consideration $19.50. 

Xathaniel Chase, Amos Brown, Joseph Chase, Xathaniel 
Gammon, \\'illiam Doble, Joseph Irish and Lemuel Crooker and 
Ezra Brown, June 14, 1799, consideration .S61.60; Joseph Rob- 
erts, Jr., June 14, 1799, consideration ^j.yo; Daniel Packard, 
June 19, 1 80 1, consideration $9.09 and Samuel Taylor, Feb. 10, 
1802, consideration $9.09. These will sufiice to .show the manner 
in which the conveyances from the state were made and the actual 
prices paid for deeds at ditTerent dates. 



64 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER ML 
Proprietors' Records. 

Memorandum of an agreement. 

A certain society met at a place called Bucktown in the County of 
Cumberland in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in order to agree 
about buying a township of land lying westward of a place called Silves- 
ter and to the northward of land belonging to Mr. Alexander Sheppard 
and at the said meeting chose and appointed Mr. Abijah Buck agent to 
go to Boston to agree with the Honorable General Court's committee 
appointed to sell land in eastern parts of this Commonwealth and on the 
seventeenth day of March 1786 made an agreement with the above said 
committee for the above said township for two shillings per acre to be 
paid in consolodated notes, one-half to be paid the first day of June and 
the other moiety to be in twelve months after the said agreement was 
completed with the said Committee the societ}- for the maintaining of 
peace, good order and a right understanding among themselves have agreed 
to divide the township into forty-one equal rights or parts after deducting 
out one hundred acres of land to every lawful settler in said Bucktown 
so that every signer hereof shall from and after this time know how 
much he owns of said township by affixing his name to this and the num- 
ber of his Right or Rights against his name and if any of the signers shall 
neglect or refuse to pay his proportionable part of what he owes of all 
the charges that has arisen or shall arise vuitil tlie town is incorporated 
or the society shall come unto a new agreement shall have so much of 
his land sold as will pay all the aforesaid charges at a publick vendue 
after said charges is duly assessed as the law directs in such cases, and 
for the true performance of the above written we have hereunto set to 
our hands the third day of July 1788. 

Abijah Buck, 9 Rights; Benj. Spaulding, 6; Xath. Buck, 4; Dominicus 
Record, 4; Jabez Cushman, 2; John Buck, 2; Thomas Allen, i; Nathan 
Pierce, i; John Brown, i; Edmund Chandler, 2; Thomas Coburn, i; 
Jonathan Tyler, i ; John Warren, 2 ; Asa Lewis, 2 ; Moses Merrill, 2 ; 
Ebenezer Lane, i. 

A true copy taken from the original agreement by me, Jonathan Tyler, 
proprietors' clark for Bucktown. 



February the 28, 1786, Mr. Abijah Buck was appointed by a certain 
Society to go to Boston as an agent for said Society to agree with the 
Honorable General Courts Committee appointed to sell unappropriated 
lands in the Eastern parts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 
on the 17th of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six made 
an agreement with the Honorable Committee above said, for himself and 
associates for a certain township of land lying to the westward of the 
town called Turner and to the northward of land belonging to Air. Alex- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 65 

ander Sheppard in the County of Cumberland and laid out by Mr. Jor- 
dan for two shillings per acre to be paid in consolodated notes for the 
whole township excepting those who were lawfully settled in said town- 
ship according to the General Courts act made for that purpose and is 
called Bucktown or No. 5 in the County of Cumberland. The names of 
the above said Society of purchasers with the said Abijah Buck are as 

followeth : 

Abijah Buck agent for the purchasers. 

Benjamin Spaulding Edmund Chandler 

John Warren I^ominicus Record 

Nathaniel Buck John Buck 

Jonathan Tyler Thomas Coburn 

Thomas Allen Moses Merrill 

John Brown Ebenezer Lane 

Asa Lewis Jabez Cushman 



To Isaac Parsons, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace in the County 
of Cumberland and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

We, the subscribers, being seven of the proprietors of land lying in 
Common in a place called Bucktown or No. 5 in the County of Cumber- 
land b'ing without the bound of any town or place incorporated, judging 
of the proprietors of said land necessary, do hereb}- apply to your honor 
for a warrant for calling a meeting of said proprietors to meet at the 
mills in said Bucktown on Tuesday the fourth day of September next at 
one o'clock in the afternoon for the following purpose, (viz.). First to 
choose a moderator; 2d, a dark; 3d, a Treasurer; 4th, a Collector; 5th, 
to choose a Committee to transact and manage all the Prudential or 
necessary business of the proprietors; 6th, to agree to measure off every 
legal settler one hundred acre lot exactly ; 7th, to agree upon a method 
for calling meetings in future and do any other business for the benefit 
of said proprietors. 

Bucktown, Aug. the 3, 1787. 

Abijah Buck, 
Benjamin Spaulding, 
DoMiNicus Record, 
Jonathan Tyler, 
John Warren, 
John Brown, 
Thomas Coburn. 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, August the 9, 1787. 

To Mr. Benjamin Spaulding, one of the subscribers. Greeting: You 
are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth above said to warn 
a meeting of the proprietors of Bucktown above said to be held at the 
place and time above said and for the purposes before mentioned by 
posting up a copy of the above request their warrant, with your notifica- 
tion in the most public place in said Bucktown where all said proprietors 
dwell excepting four and notify the said four personally at least fifteen 
days before the day of said meeting. 

Isaac Parsons, Justice of Peace. 



66 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

A tnie copy examined by Jonathan Tyler, Proprietors Clark. 

By a warrant from under the hand of Isaac Parsons, Esq., one of the 
Justices of the Peace for the Count.v of Cumberland and seal thereon, 
requesting Mr. Benjamin Spaulding, one of the proprietors of a place 
called Bucktown or Xo. 5 in the Count>- of Cumberland to meet on Tues- 
day the fourth day of September one thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-seven at the mills in said Bucktown at one of the clock in the 
afternoon — and accordingly the proprietors met and proceeded to busi- 
ness. First, Dominicus Record was chosen moderator; 2d, Jonathan 
Tyler was chosen proprietors dark; 3d. Abijah Buck was chosen Treas- 
urer; 4th, Abijah Buck was chosen Collector; 5th, Benjamin Spaulding, 
Abijah Buck and Dominicus Record was chosen a committee to sell land 
anj-vvhere in Bucktown above said provided it was regular laid out and 
not infringing on any lawful settler's hundred acre lot. the sale of the 
land to be in order to pay the General Court Committee as by agreement 
made with the above said committee and as Benjamin Spaulding, Abijah 
Buck, Dominicus Record had formerly sold proprietors land for to pay 
the aforesaid General Court Committee were by a vote justified in their 
doings; the above said Committee were also chosen to transact and man- 
age all the prudential or necessar\- business of the proprietors. The 6th 
article was left for a further consideration and then the meeting was 
adjourned to Wednesday the 17th day of October following at two of 
the clock in the afternoon. 

Met upon adjournment October the 17. 1787. 7th article which was to 
agree upon some method in calling meetings in future, voted that the 
above said committee when requested by the proprietors or when the com- 
mittee shall think proper shall request the proprietors' dark to call meet- 
inas in future and then the meetins: was desolved. 



At a legal meeting of the society or purchasers of a place called Buck- 
town in the county of Cumberland on April the 8, 1788, Dominicus 
Record Moderator. Voted that Thomas Cobum, Thomas Allen and Ben- 
jamin Spaulding should settle all the society or purchasers' accounts 
belonging to the above said society- and assessors and then the meeting 
was adjourned to the last Tuesday of this instant April. At the above 
said meeting Jonathan Tyler was sworn to the office of proprietors' Clark, 
Abijah Buck was sworn to the office of Treasurer, Thomas Cobum, 
Thomas Allen and Benjamin Spaulding were sworn to settle all the 
accounts belonging to the society of Bucktown and to assess the same. 

April the 29, 1788, met upon adjournment and the meeting was dis- 
solved. 

At a legal meeting held at the Mills in Bucktown, July the 2, 17S8. 
Dominicus Record Moderator, then voted that the Committee chosen in 
April the 8, 1788, to settle they shall settle the proprietors' accounts on 
September the 2 day next ensuing. 

Voted that if any one proprietor should draw a lot unfit for settle- 
ment shall have the liberty to choose another lot anywhere in the un- 



HISTORY OF RUCKFIELD 67 

divided land in Bucktown that is not drawed nor sold provided he makes 
his returns to the Clark before the 20 of September next and no longer. 

Voted to draw lots on 3 day of July 1788. 

Voted that Jonathan Tyler should have a settling lot containing one 
hundred acres and then the meeting was dissolved. 

At a legal meeting at the house of Left. Dominicus Record in Buck- 
town Feb. the lo, 1789. 

1st, Dominicus Record, Moderator. 

2d, Voted to raise two pound eighteen shillings upon every single 
Right of land belonging to the proprietors of Bucktown. 

4th. This article was thought proper to leave for further consid- 
eration. 

.5lh, This article was to choose two men to sue off the illegal settlers 
and Mr. Asa l-icwis and Col. Moses Merrill were the two men chosen for 
that business if need requires it. 

6th, Voted that any of the proprietors of Bucktown between this and 
the last of March next shall have the liberty to agree with any or all the 
illegal settlers and trespassers in Bucktown shall have their lots that 
they are now in possession of in the room of their second division lots 
provided they bring no charges upon the proprietors. Then the meeting 
was dissolved." 



At a legal meeting of the proprietors of Bucktown at the house of 
Left. Dominicus Record in said Bucktown on April the ist, 1789, 

Voted first Dominicus Record moderator. That no proprietor shall 
give a deed of any lot or lots of any land lying in Bucktown without ex- 
cepting the road or roads in their deed or deeds laid or to be laid. 

2dly voted April the 1st, 1789, that the 6th Article that was passed in 
Feb. the 10th, 17S9, should be continued until the next meeting of the 
proprietors. 

3dly voted that every settler by agreement should work three days 
upon the roads in Bucktown that were settled in Bucktown. 

4th voted that every proprietor should work upon the road two days 
for every Right one d.ay upon the county road and one day upon the 
town road in Bucktown. 

5th voted to choose surveyors and Dominicus Record, Thomas Coburn. 
Philemon Parsons, Enoch Hall and Nathaniel Chase were chosen sur- 
veyors of roads for Bucktown. 

6th voted to choose a committee to lay out town roads in Bucktown 
and Benjamin Spaulding, John Buck, and Thomas Lowell were chosen a 
committee to lay out roads in Bucktown. 

7 voted that the work shall be done upon the above said roads some- 
time in the year of 1789. Then the meeting was dissolved. 

At a legal meeting of the proprietors of Bucktown in the County of 
Cumberland April the 19th, 1791, Lieut. Dominicus Record moderator. 

1st voted to dismiss Mr. Asa Lewis and Col. Moses Merrill as they 
were chosen to sue off the illegal settlers and trespassers in Bucktown. 

2d voted to choose two other men to sue off the illegal settlers and 
trespassers. 

3 voted that Mr. Jabez Cushman and Ebenezer Lane be the two men 
chosen to sue off the illegal settlers and trespassers in Bucktown. 

4 voted that Mr. Benjamin Spaulding. Mr. Abijah Buck, Lieut. Domini- 
cus Record be a committee to give power in behalf of the proprietors in 
Bucktown to Mr. .Jabez Cushman and Mr. Ebenezer Lane to sue off the 
illegal settlers and trespassers in Bucktown or settle with them other 
ways. 



68 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

5th voted to raise three shillings upon every single Right of land in 
Bucktown to defray proprietors' charges. 

6th voted that if the committee that is appointed to sell land in Buck- 
town do not sell land enough between this and the last of May next to 
pay the balance that is due to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 
land they are to hire money in behalf of the proprietors of Bucktown 
enough to make the balance. 

At a legal meeting December the 6th 1791, Dominicus Record moder- 
ator. 

Voted that no one person shall cut, fall or carry away any pine tim- 
ber or logs off the proprietors' undivided land. 

At a legal meeting of the proprietors of Bucktown held at the house 
of Mr. Abijah Buck in Bucktown Dominicus Record moderator December 
the 20, 1791. 

First voted to reserve roads on every undivided lot or lots to be laid 
where the committee that is appointed to lay out roads for the benefit 
of the town shall think proper. 

2 voted to draw one hundred acres to every single Right and drawed 
them. 

3 voted that if any one of the proprietors should draw a lot that was 
unfit for a settlement containing one hundred acres shall have the liberty 
to choose another hundred acres anywhere on the undivided land belong- 
ing to the proprietors provided they make their return to the dark before 
tiie first of .June next and no longer. 

4 voted that all those whose names are hereafter mentioned who had 
lots in their possession containing one hundred acres before the first 
division was drawn was confirmed to them as strong as though they had 
drawn them in the rirst division — John Warren No. 22, Benjamin Spauld- 
ing No. 20, Natha^niel Buck No. 8. Dominicus Record No. 21, Abijah Buck 
No. 9, 10, 18 lots in his possession. All those men who had hundred acre 
lots in their possession in the second division was confirmed to them as 
strong as though they drawed them, namely Benjamin Spaulding No. 21, 
Nathaniel Buck No. 19, Abijah Buck No. IS, John Buck No. IH, Dominicus 
Record No, 21 containing 187 acres by a vote February the 10, 1789 that 
if any of the proprietors of Bucktown should get off any of the illegal 
settlers should have the lot that they got off for their second division. 
Dominicus Record got off Joseph Irish 100 acre lot No. 8 R. 2 Bast. 
Thomas Coburn got off Andrew Elliot 100 acre lot. Benjamin Spaulding 
got off Nathaniel Smith 100 acre lot No. 11 East. Abijah Buck Enoch 
I^eathers 50 acres No. 3 East, and there was fifty acres allowed to him 
of lot No. 9 first range'. Edmund Chandler got off Jotham Shaw 60 
acres No. 6 which was confirmed to him also 23 lA acres off lot No. 31 was 
also confirmed to him. Voted that Mark Andrews should have the lib- 
erty to choose two lots either No. seven in second range or No. seven in 
third range or No. twelve in the second range and No. thirteen west pro- 
vided he makes this return to the dark by the first of .Tune next. 

At a legal meeting of the proprietors of Bucktown February the 27, 
1792, Dominicus Record moderator. 

1 Voted to raise six shillings and ten pence upon every single Right. 

2 Voted that as Abijah Buck our agent and treasurer received of the 
proprietor's money one hundred and twenty-seven pounds eleven shillings 
with which sum he went to Boston and finished the last payment that 
was due to the Committe at Boston for the township of Bucktown so 
called and for his pocket expenses and getting the deed recorded at Port- 
land office which was done to the exceptance of the proprietors. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 69 

3 Voted that any one of the proprietors of Bucktown shall have the 
liberty to settle with Job Tucker and James Jordan who are unlawful 
settlers in Bucktown provided that whoever of the proprietors that settle 
with the said Tucker and Jordar. shall discount out of their third divi- 
sion of land the value of the place that the said Tucker and Jordan are in 
possession of provided they settle by the first of April next. 

4 Voted that any one of the proprietors of Bucktown shall have the 
liberty to settle with Thomas Lowell or John Thurlo concerning a piece 
of land lying near lot No. 35 containing 36^4, acres provided he will dis- 
count the value of two dollars per acre out of his third division of land 
in Bucktown. 

At a legal meeting ot the proprietors at the house of Mr. Abijah Buck 
in Bucktown December i8, 1792, Dominicus Record moderator. 

First voted that the whole lots, gores and pieces of land should stand 
just as they were drawn in the last division and that the whole lots, 
gores and pieces of land should be recorded more or less. 

2 voted to raise four shillings upon every single Right. 

3 voted that although the proprietors have divided and drawn all tlieir 
Right or Rights of land — some small pieces excepted belonging to the 
proprietors of Bucktown yet they should hold together with the same 
power to call proprietors meetings and to raise money to defray charges 
that may arise upon any account whatsoever and to do any other busi- 
ness that shall be thought proper until further order and then the meet- 
ing was dissolved. 

At a legal meeting of the proprietors held at the house of Abijah Btick 
June the 30, 1795, Dominicus Record moderator. 

Voted to lay out a lot of land containing 85 acres into eight acre lots. 

2 voted to alter the bounds of John Irish's lot. 

3 voted to alter Edmund Chandler's lot. 
Then the meeting was adjourned. 

Buckiield September the 27. 1707. 

At a proprietors meeting at the house of Abijah Buck in Buckfield 
Thomas Allen moderator. 

lly voted Dominicus Record proprietors dark. 

Buckfield September the 27, 1797. Personally appeared the above 
named Dominicus Record and was sworn to the faithful discharge of his 
duty in which he is chosen. Before me Isaac Sturtifant Esq. 



At a legal meeting of the proprietors of the town of Pmckiicld Decem- 
ber the 19 A. D. 1798 Abijah Buck moderator and adjourned to Monday 
the 24 of December 1798 at one of the clock in the afternoon. 

Agreeable to the above adjourninent the proprietors met at the house 
of Abijah Buck and voted on the following articles. 

1 voted that the proprietors committee be a committee to give Samuel 
Andrews power to act in behalf ot the proprietors of Buckfield to get the 
lines of the town established according to John Jordan's survey. 

21y voted three dollars to Abijah Buck. 

Sly voted two dollars to Benjamin Spaulding. 

41y voted two dollars to Dominicus Record. 

51y voted Abijah Buck seven dollars and seventy cents for' attending 
Court at Portland to present the establishment of the town lines at that 
time. 

61y voted to raise one dollar and twenty-five cents on each Right. 

71y voted to Dismiss the meeting. 



70 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Buckfield May i6 1799. At a legal meeting of the proprietors of the 
town of Buckfield, Abijah Buck moderator. 

1 voted to choose a committee to go to Samuel Parris or others to act | 
on the proprietors affairs and give power to act for tliem in General Court 
if they think proper relative to the town lines. 

2 voted that the former committee shall be a committee for the above 
purpose. I 

3 voted that -Abijah Buck shall be an agent to act in General court for f 
the proprietors of Buckfield in getting' the town lines established. 

4 voted that Abijah Buck shall take his expense money out of what 
Jonathan Roberts owes the proprietors if he goes to Boston on proprie- 
tors business. 

5 voted that the meeting Desmist. 

Buckfield, October the 6 A. D. 1800. 
At a legal meeting of the proprietors of the town of Buckfield at the 
school house between Thomas Allen and Abijah Buck. 

1 voted -Abijah Buck moderator. 

2 voted to adjourn the meeting to Monday the thirteenth Day of Octo- 
ber instant at two of the clock in the afternoon. 

Agreeable to the above adjournment the proprietors met and voted as 
follows, to viz : 

First to raise twenty-five cents on each Right of land in the propri- 
etors strips. 

2d voted that Abijah Buck shall go to Portland and take care of the 
proprietors business at Portland with Jonathan Roberts. 

Sly voted to Dismiss the meeting." 



Buckfield March 29th 1803 

At a legal meeting at the school house between Abijah Buck's and 
Thomas Allen's, the proprietors met and chose Abijah Buck moderator. 

Voted to ajcurn to the 5th day of April next at one o'clock in the 
afternoon to meet at the above said School house. 

April the 5th 1803 agreeable to ajournment the proprietors met. 

Voted the proprietors committee's accounts to be allowed. 

Voted the proprietors committee shall measure off lot Xo. 16. Voted 
to ajourn to the third Monday of next June at two of the clock in the 
afternoon to meet at the above named Schoolhouse. 

Tutie the 20 — 1803 the proprietors met according to adjournment, and 
adjourned to Abijah Buck's Dwelling house in Buckfield. 

Voted to sell all the land belonging to the proprietors of Buckfield 
lying between the land of Dominicus Record and the land of Thomas 
Lincoln and Thomas Allen's land. 

Voted the former committee be a committee to sell the above said 
land. 

Voted to ajourn to the dwelling house of Dominicus Record to meet 
on Monday the 11th of July next at three of the clock in the afternoon. 

July the nth then met according to adjournment. 

Voted Dominicus Record $2.40 for recording land and meetings. 

Voted to ajourn to the last Monday of August next, to meet at the 
dwelling house of Dominictis Record at two of the clock in the afternoon, 
August the 29, 1803, then meet the proprietors of Buckfield and voted to 
dismiss the meeting. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 71 

Buckficld April the nintli A. D. 1806. At a lejial meeting of tlie pro- 
prietors of the town of Bvickfield and Voted as follows viz: 

Voted Abijah Buck Esq moderator. 

Voted to sell all the peaces of land that is not sold noi' drawn, belong- 
ing to the proprietors of Bucktield. 

Voted the former Committee be a committee to sell land — peaces of 
land. 

Vot.^d to di'jmiss tho meeting-- 

Buckfield January tlie i — 1810. At a legal meetting of the Proprie- 
tors of Buckfield at the house of Dominions Record Esq. 

first Voted Benjamin Spaulding- moderator. 

secondly Voted that Abiajh Buck to be Proprietors Clark. 

thirdly Voted that Abijah Buck should be agent on the acount of a 
law sute against David Farrow. 

forthly Voted to adjorn this meeting to the tirst Monday in February 
next at one of the clock in the afternoon at Abi.iah Truck's Dwelling 
house in BuckMeld. 

January the first A. D. 1810 

Parsonely appeared Ahijah Buck Esquire, and took the oath that he 
wold Faithfully, perform the Duty of a Proprietor's Clark. Before me 

DoMiNicus Record Justice of the Peace. 

Fehruary the 5 — 1810 then met according to the ajoinment at the time and 
place aliove said and went on to Bisness. 

first Voted to Raise two Dollars on F-ach Right, on the Proprietors 
Lands in Buckfield, for the expense of the above Sute. Then Voted to 
ajorn this meeting to the 26 Day of March next, at one o'clock in the 
afternoon at Abijah Buck's dwelling house in Buckfield. 

Abijah Buck Proprietors Clarke 

There were several meetings held hetween the date ot the last men- 
tioned and the following, but no business appears to have been transacted. 

Buckfield Nov. the 19, 1810. 
At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of Buckfield upon an adjourn- 
ment. 

Voted that the accounts of Abijah Buck and Benjamin Spaulding for 
carrying on a law suit against David Farrow be allowed. 

Abijah Buck's acount for time and expense, $44.47 

Benajmin Spalding's acount for time and expense, $10. .'iO 
And then the meeting was adjourned. 

Buckfield March the 26 — 1811. 
Voted to chuse a Committee to Settle the Proprietors Books. Then 
\oted that Abijah Buck and Dominicus Record should be the Committee 
to Settle and balance the Proprietors Books. Then voted to adjourn. 



Buckficld September the 10 — i8ii 
Then voted to ajorn the meeting to the 12th Day of November next at 
one o'clock in the afternoon at Abijah Buck's dwelling house. in Buckfield. 
This meeting was desolved by the Death of Mr. Benjamin Spalding he 
being moderator. He Died before the time of the meeting 

Abijah Buck, Proprietor's Clark." 



72 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Buckfield March the 31 — 1S12 
By order of the Proprietors of Buckfield I notify and warn the Pro- 
prietors of Said Buckfield, to meet at Abijah Buck's Dwelling house on 
Monday the twentyth Day of April next at one of the clock, in the after 
noon for the following Purposes to : viz — 
First to chuse a moderator to govern Said meeting. 
Second to chuse one Committe man if thought best. 
Thirdly to allow the Proprietors' acounts if thought proper. 
Forthh- to Do any other Bisness for the benefit of the Proprietors on 
said Day. 

Abijah Buck Proprietors' Clark. 

Pursuant to the within Request, I have notified and warned all the 
Proprietors of Buckfield to meet at the time and Place and for the Pur- 
poses within mentioned. 

Buckfield April the twenty Day — 1812 

Abijah Buck Proprietors' Clark. 



I 



Buckfield April the 20 — 1812 

At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of Buckfield at Abijah Buck's 
house first, 

Voted Benjamin Spalding moderator for said meeting. Secondly. 
Voted John "Warren a Committe man in the room of Mr. Spalding De- 
ceased. 

Thirdly. Voted to allow the acounts of Abijah Buck. Benjamin Spald- 
ing. Xathaniel Buck and Dominicus Record against the Proprietors for 
settling the Proprietors acounts and Ballencing the Books. 

Abijah Buck's acount to 2^i. Days. SI. 66 

Benjamin Spalding s acount to 2 Days. SI. 33 

Xathaniel Buck's acount to 2 Days. §1.33 

Dominicus Record's acount to ^2 Day, SO. 33 

Fourthly Voted to allow Abijah Buck four Dollars and thirty six cents 
which was due on Jonathan Tyler's right S4.36 

Fifthly, \'oted to Abijah Buck's acount for Collecting the Proprietor's 
money and Paying out the same for eight years SS.OO 

Sixly, Voted to allow Abijah Bucks' acount for being Treasurer for 
twenty years for said Proprietors S4.00 

Seventh, Voted to record the publick lands according to the Proprie- 
tor's Deed of che town of Buckfield. 

The Deed sais '"Reserving however two hundred acres for the use of 
the minister" to viz 

One lot in the Fourth Range. East Division No. 2 contains 100 acres. 

One lot in the Fifth Range, East Division No. 1 contains 100 acres. 

These lots are for the use of the minister. 

"Two hundred acres for the first Settled minister. " 

One lot in the Seventh range No. 12. west division, contains 100 acres. 

One lot in the fifth range No. 17 contains 100 acres West Division. 

These lots are for the first Settled minister. 

"Two hundred and eighty acres for the use of a. grammar School." 

One lot in the Second range No. 11 contains 100 acres East Division. 

One lot in the first range No. 11 contains 100 acres East Division and 
one lot in the third range No. 7 contains eighty acres of the South ^Vest 
end of said lot West Division. "And two hundred acres near the Center 



HISTORY OF BLXKFlliLD 73 

of the town of Buckrteld for the futer disposition of the General Court." 

One lot in the Seventh Range No. 13 contains one hundred acres, West 
Division. One lot in the seventh range No. 14 contains one hundred 
acres West Division. These lots ware set off by the Commonwealth's 
Committe for the above use according lo the Deed above said. 

Eighth Voted to ohuse a Committe to meet with tlie town's Committe 
concerning the publick lands in the town of Bucklield. 

Ninth Voted that the Committe shall consist of two. 

Tenth Voted that Abijah Buck and Benjamin Spalding shall be the 
Committe for that purpose. 

Eleventh, Voted to ajorn tliis meeting. 

Abijah Buck, Proprietors' Clark. 



MEMORANDA. 

John Brown sold one Right in the Proprietors' lands to Xathan Pierce 
May 1 6 178S. 

Tristram Warren bought one Right of Col. Moses Merrill. 

Buckfield September the 6 — 181 1 
This day the Proprietors' Committe look over the Proprietors Books 
and found the Debt and Credit Balance R%ht, by us the Subscribers. 

Benjamin Sp.'VLDING ) The Proprietors 
Nathaniel Buck ^ Committe 

Abijah Buck, Proprietors' Clarke 



For and in consideration of a certain tract or parcel of land Deeded to 
me by Benjamin Spaulding, Abijah Buck and Dominicus Record all of 
Buckfield. Said Deed bearing Date February the fourth, one thousand 
eight hundred and three, which land I received in consequence of a Car- 
tain lot of land, I had of the Heirs of James Thurlow, a settler in Buck- 
field, which was called one hundred and twelve rods in Wedth, but proved 
to be but one hundred and four rods in wedtli and I sartify, that I take 
the above named tract of land in full compensation for the Deficianc\- 
of the weadth of said Thurlow settling lot of land in Buckfield. 

Buckfield February the fourth, one thousand eight hundred and three, 
as witness my hand William Berry 

Attest, George W. Cushman 
Betsy Buck. 

The Proprietors Committe payed the Charges of a law Sute against 
David Farrow and all other charges of the above said Proprietors and 
balanced the acounts on the Proprietors Books out of the above said 
money (money obtained from the sale of lands) and the rest was divided 
to each Right, according as the Proprietors owned. Done by the above 
said Proprietors Committee. 



74 HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 

CHAPTER Mil. 
Later Traditional History. 

A survey of the township was made in 1785. as we have seen 
and the land run out into ranges and lots which were numbered. 
The first range in the West Division bordered on Paris town line. 
In the section west of the settling lots of those who had come into 
the township prior to Jan. i, 1784. was some excellent land but 
the country here was hilly and the bears were numerous. In 
1787 the first settler entered the region for the purpose of select- 
ing a lot for a settlement. It was David Farrar — then generally 
written Farrow — of Hingham, Alass. He purchased a lot in the 
fourth range, adjoining the lots of the Warrens. Here he made 
a clearing and erected a log house. In the early spring of 1788 
he set out with his wife and children for his pioneer home. They 
landed from a vessel at Falmouth, now Portland. It is said that 
he had but fifty cents in his pocket when the family started from 
Falmouth on foot for Bucktown. 

His family then consisted of his wife, wlin was Judith Stod- 
dard of Scituate and six children. Judith, the oldest, was in her 
i6th year; David, 13; Samuel, 9; Phillip, 7; Tamar. not quite 4 
and Alehitable one year and three months old. It must have 
taken them several days to reach the township. 

As the family entered it, on the route traveled by the early 
settlers over South Hill, tradition says that it was nearly sun- 
down. Ahead of the others of this weary little company was the 
girl Judith, when a large black bear was espied in the path before 
her. As might have been expected from a girl reared in one of 
the oldest towns in the old colony she screa'ned. This brought 
quickly to the scene an athletic young man with his gun from a 
nearby clearing. At a glance he took in the situation and bid- 
ding the frightened girl step aside, he took aim at the bear and 
fired. The sharp report of the gun hastened the footsteps of the 
rest of the Farrar family and when they reached the place they 
found the animal just breathing its last. Gathering around the 
dead bear they hail their first experience in pioneer life. 

The young man was Thomas Lowell, who had selected a lot 
for settlement nearby and had provided a home in his log house 
for his father and mother. He invited the Farrars to the house. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 75 

where they were made welcome. In after years thev often re- 
ferred to their first night in Cucktown and the g^enerous hospital- 
ity they received. 

The next day leaving" his family with the Lowells, David I-"ar- 
rar went on to his clearing. He foimd that the snow had blown 
into his log house. This was thrown out and the places where 
the snow had sifted in made tight. \\'hen it was rendered com- 
fortable the family was brought to it. While the father was 
working on the future abode of the family, it is said that Thomas 
Lowell began his wooing of ihe fair daughter, Judith. As may 
be supposed, it was not opposed by either family. When the 
father gave his consent, he told his future son-in-law that he 
must hunt up a minister to perform the marriage ceremon_\- as he 
had no time to do so. The lovers were married in i/go. 

David Farrar spent the greater part of his time at work for 
the settlers at his trade as a hotisewright, as it was called in those 
days. After a few years he prospered and became well to do. 
He died in 1810 and Buckfield lost one of its most worthy citi- 
zens of that period. David Farrar was of meditmi height and 
slightly built, but his wife was a large woman from wiiom the 
Farrars have inherited forms of good size. There were ten chil- 
dren in all. Those born here were: Xathan, Sept. 16, 1789; 
Bela, Dec. 26, 1791 ; Desire, Oct. 3, 1796 and John, July 10, i8oo. 
Thev all settled near the old homestead. 



In the year 1788, William Harlow of IMymouth, 2^1 ass., came 
to Township No. 5 looking for a place to locate. It was the 
same year that David Farrar had moved hi.- family beyond the 
lots of the Warrens into the unsettled western half of the planta- 
tion as related. Harlow was alone and carried the tisual pioneer 
outfit, an ax, a gun, a bundle of necessary articles, all suspended 
from his shoulders. He arrived at the mills (now P.uckfield vil- 
lage) on the 26th day of June, where he met A))ijah lUick. the 
pioneer. 

William Harlow found Buck no ordinary man as some years 
afterward he told the story of his visit to his intimate friend and 
neighbor, John Rider. Harlow was most cordially received and 
hospitably entertained. A plan of the town was laid before him 
and Buck talked to him through half of the afternoon and the 



76 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

whole of the evening- of the great advantages which the different 
sections of the plantation presented to the settler. He cited the 
large crops of corn and wheat already raised bv the re'^ident 
farmers. The hills of the western section were in' his estimation 
the best localities for farms. He was anxious to get a few set- 
tlers into the first range next to the Paris line and he informed 
Harlow that the Nezinscot river had been rudelv bridged. (This 
was near the A\'hite bridge now built across the stream.) And 
the land had been taken up to the top of the hill west of it. John 
Buck, his son, then twenty years old, had taken the nearest lot in 
the range westerly (No. 9, Fifth Range) and had alreadv begun 
clearing the land and making improvements. He advised Har- 
low to go into the next range west of his son John's land and 
select his lot. 

Old "Granny Tyler," who sat listening to the conversa- 
tion then said : 'Tf you do, Air. Harlow, look out that the bears 
don't eat your children up, for they will holler up there at times 
like all possessed." Harlow met, that night, at Buck's. Joel Fos- 
ter, who had moved into the plantation about three years before 
from Pembroke, Mass., and who had established a tannery at the 
mills. He was the affianced husband of Phebe Buck, one of the 
daughters. He was there presumably to see his future wife. 
They were married fifteen days after, Julv to, 1788. 

The next morning, accompanied by Abijah Buck, Harlow 
started out prospecting, but when only a short distance had been 
gone, they were overtaken by one of the boys, who had a message 
for his father's return to see some parties who wanted to inter- 
view him on business. Accordingly Harlow went on alone and 
traveling all day, finally near nightfall he returned to No. 9, Sec- 
ond Range, where he concluded to locate on account of the thick 
hard wood growth which he found in that localitv. He felled 
two large trees, and between them arranged a couch, where he 
slept through the night. Tradition says that he was awakened 
by a bear that came smelling around the fallen trees. He was 
astir early and went to work felling the huge hard wood trees 
which then covered the hill where his future home was to be. 
]de cut and carried sticlcs of spruce and pine from the lowlands 
for parts of the log house. As a rule the settlers came in twos 
and threes and usually exchanged work, especiallv the lifting of 
heavy logs and such labor. Harlow was aloPiC, awav from other 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD . 77 

settlers and was obliged to do his own work unaided whether 
light or heavy. He was within half a mile of the Paris line and 
about four miles from the settlement on Paris Hill which was 
begun there a few years before but to rcacli it 'twas necessary to 
go through an unbroken forest by a spotted line. After toiling 
laboriously for many days, he had made a small clearing, erected 
a log house, cut a path to the Uuck hill and l)ri(lged the streams. 
He had backed his eatables from the mills while at work and his 
trusty rifle had furnished him game in abundance. His work 
done he returned to his home in Massachusetts to prepare for his 
removal in the spring of the next year. 

In 1789 he moved his family into the plantation. It consisted 
of his wife and four chiklren as follows : Xathaniel, eight years 
old ; Ivory, five years ; Jerusha, three years and Ephraim, not yet 
one year old. W'illiam Harlow was descended from Robert Har- 
low who married Rebecca Bartlett at Plymouth, Alass., in 1649. 
His house was constructed out of the timbers of the old fort on 
Burial Hill used by the settlers to protect tliemselves against the 
Indians. The fort had been abandoned after the close of King 
Philip's war, and the timbers were given him to erect his 
dwelling house. William was sixth. in descent from this Robert 
and married Susannah, daughter of Thomas Harlow. Their 
other children born in Buckfield were Susannah, March 19, 1793; 
Isaac, April 10, 1795; Elizabeth, April 23, 1797 and Ducilla, 
]\Iarch 31, 1800. 

William Harlow, the pioneer, w'as a man of the pure Saxon 
type — strong, robust, intelligent and ready and willing to labor. 
Four years later, at the first town meeting, he was chosen second 
on the board of selectmen. He had an unusually good education 
for the times. He was killed wliile felling a tree in 1800 and his 
bereaved widow was left with a family of nine children to take 
care of. The spot where he was killed is still shown to the curi- 
ous. The wndow in later years married a Macomber of Jay. 
She died at a daughter's in vSangerville. 

Nathaniel, the oldest son, married Polly Thayer and settled 
on the east half of his father's lot. He was a school teacher, jus- 
tice of the peace and trader. Ephraim married Laodicia Bessey 
of Paris and occupied the western half of the lot. living in the 
house with his mother. About 1826, under his preaching, a 
church societv was organized and the brick schoolhouse at the 



78 HISTORY OF BUCKFJELU 

Three Corners was used as a chapel. Later he was ordained an 
elder. 

Abiiah Buck's son John, the third settler in the ranges of 
lots west, married Alollie, daughter of Tristam Warren, 
Oct. i4, 1789. The ceremony was performed at Turner by the 
Rev. John Strickland. Aloses Bisbee married Ellen Buck, a sis- 
ter of John at the same time. It was a double wedding. John 
moved away about 18 14 and settled in Penobscot County. 






In the year 1789 three young men from Massachusetts, 
Luther Gardner of Hingham, Jonathan Damon of Pembroke and 
William Brock of the same vicinity, settled in the section near 
David Farrar's. The two former selected land in the fourtli 
range north of Farrar's. Gardner took the eastern half and 
Damon the western half of the lot. Brock took a whole lot in 
Range 3. 

There were three additional settlers between John Buck 2nd, 
and William Harlow's viz. Capt. John Rider, Job Prince and 
James Waterman from Kingston, Mass. The two^ latter were 
unmarried. Waterman took lot No. 8 in the Third Range and 
began his clearing on the hillside sloping toward the west. Here 
he built his log house which he occupied for some years. Prince 
was not satisfied with any one of the adjoining lots and he pur- 
chased the western halves of lots No. 8 and 9 in the Fourth 
Range which made a most excellent farm. 

Luther Gardner was a soldier in the Continental Army, and 
incidents in his military life are still told v/ith pride among his 
neighbors' descendants. He is spoken of as a quiet, practical, 
honest and industrious man. Here he died, but left no offspring". 

William Brock by hard work and good calculation and econo- 
my, wrought from the wilderness a productive farm and a com- 
petence. He was a horse raiser. He was the father of a large 
family of children yet we have to record that after giving up his 
property to one of them for his maintenance, he died at the alms- 
house. 

A sister of Jonathan Damon had married David Record who 
had moved to Ijuckfield from Pembroke, JNIass., in 1781. 
Whether her presence here was the cause of her brother's coming 
or the accounts given by David Farrar caused him to seek a place 
of settlement is uncertain. He had been bound out while a child 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 79 

and had been inured to hanlship and toil. He was uneducated 
but honest and industrious. The first year of his coming- he made 
a clearing and erected his log house. He did not return to Massa- 
chusetts on the approach of winter as did Gardner and Brock but 
he hired out to I'enj. Spaulding at four ilollars per month taking 
lard in payment. 

In the year 1791 lie raised a very large corn crop. It is said 
by his descendants that for many days and nights he only left his 
husking to prepare and eat his meals. He worked right along 
tlirough the night, lying back among the fodder to sleep, wdien ex- 
hausted nature could no longer bear up under the constant strain. 
His only companion as he told one of his grandchildren in after 
years, was a big. black bear that used to come everv night and 
eat her supper from the opposite side of the ])ile of corn. 

*'\Miy didn't you kill her?" asked the boy, while he was tell- 
ing the story. 

"Because I was so lonesome that even the coming of this bear 
was company for me," he answered. 

After his corn was husked he went back to ?\Iassachusetts for 
the purpose of suing for the heart and hand of ]\Iiss Patience 
Joselyn. It is related at one of his visits she asked him why his 
hands were so hard, and he answered that it was because he 
Inisked so much corn. He won ^Nliss Patience and they w^ere 
married the next April (1792). She liad a brother living on 
what was once called the Andrew Hall farm, and she came from 
^Massachusetts with Damon and they were married in Turner by 
the Rev. John Strickland. 

Damon's ambition was to own land, and as he prospered, he 
kept adding to his farm. He kept buying and clearing as long 
as there was any wild land near him. At last he owned many 
hundreds of acres. He cleared more land than any other 
pioneer in the town. His children married and settled in and 
near Buckfield, and his descendants to-day are very numerous. 



80 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER IX. 

French and Indian War Soldiers. 

A number of the first settlers in Bucktown had seen service 
in the last French and Indian war which began in 1755 and prac- 
tically ended with the fall of Quebec in 1759. At his death Hon. 
Virgil D. Parris left among his papers a list of their names giv- 
ing approximate age at death and in most cases where they 
served as follows : 

Abijah Buck, 87, Cape Breton, Crown Point. 

John Brown 

John Crockett, Fort William Henr}-. 

Eleazer Chase, 86 

Joseph Chesley, 84 

William Cilley, Crown Point and Ticonderoga. 

Hatevil Hall 

Jeremiah Hodgdon, 88. In contest with savages around Gorham and 
Windham. 

Samuel Jenkins, T], Quebec. 

Jolin Irish, 80, Louisburg, Quebec. 

Joseph Irish, Fort William Henry. 

Robert Martin, Fort William Henry. 

Jonathan Philbrick 

Joseph Packard (Father of Daniel and Job. Served under Gen. 
Winslow when the Arcadians were removed.) 

Jonathan Roberts, 74, Braddock's Defeat. 

Joseph Roberts, 77, Braddocks' Defeat. 

John Lapham, 84 

Benjamin Spaulding, 75 

Samuel Taylor, 94 

John Mathews, Braddock's Defeat. 

Ephraim Ricker 

Tristram Warren 

No tradition survives relating to their service in this war, 
yet their army life must have been full of interesting incidents 
and probably of hair-breadth escapes. The fact that three at 
least of them were at Fort William Henry and survived the 
massacre there and three others were in the Braddock campaign, 
shows that there must have been interesting and thrilling stories 
of adventure to relate, but none have come down to us. 

Mention has been made in his biographical sketch of the 
service of John Irish and of his being a member of a "Snow- 



HISTORY OF BUCKKIELL) 81 

shoe" company of Indian Scouts. Besides a bounty given by 
the General Court for prisoners taken and scalps, the pay of a 
private was \£, \is, 3(1 per month. Uq was among those 
awarded the "sjioils of victory"' in Ca])t. ?*lo?es Pearson's Com- 
pany at the capture of Louisburq- in 1745 and Pearsonstown, now 
Standish, was granted b}- the Commonwealtli to this officer and 
45 of his men among whom was John Irish for their services 
and valor in the expedition against that stronghold. 

During the Indian \\'ar of 1743-9 the settlers in Gorham, 
Me., left their homes and went into the fort or blockhouse for 
safety where they stayed for seven years. Their life there must 
have been very monotonous and at times of great danger. When 
the men went into the common fields to work at planting or har- 
vesting their crops they always took their guns with them and 
placed the boys, also armed, on stumps and other conspicuous 
objects to watch for the appearance of savages. Jeremiah 
Hodgdon, senior, with his family was in this blockhouse during 
tills long, dreary and perilous period. He was an Indian scout 
and hunter. His son, Jeremiah, afterwards a resident of Buck- 
field was one of these boys who was set to do this duty. One 
day when the work had been finished they started for the fort as 
usual. The boys eager to reach it, moved more quickly than 
tlie men and getting some distance in advance were fired upon 
by some Indians in ambush. They bravely stood their ground 
and returned the fire. The men hurried to the scene and the 
savages beat a hasty retreat leaving five of their number dead on 
tlie ground. Jeremiah Hodgdon, the father, died or was killed 
during that war. 

Those !Maine men who escaped the massacre of I'ort William 
Henry had in one way or another to break away from their In- 
dian captors (one said to be of superior strength knocked down 
two savages), then to rtm for the woods and get away from them 
as best they could. We have the record of two who thus es- 
caped and made their way home to Gorham. They were a month 
on the way and during that time lived on roots, browse and licr- 
rics. They forded and swam rivers and n^ade great detours 
around ponds. Wdien they reached home their shoes were worn 
out and their clothes were literally torn from their backs. Their 
experience was probably not unlike those there who afterwards 
became settlers in Buckfield. 



82 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Ezra Drown, the father of Amos Brown, one of the first 47 
Buckfield settlers, in 1756 was in the blockhouse in Windham 
with his family for greater security against the savages. On the 
morning of the 14th of May with Ephraim Winship and a guard 
of eight men and boys with an ox-team he started to work on his 
lot about a mile distant. On the way they had to ]:)ass through a 
piece of woods, Brown and Winship went ahead to take down 
some bars. While doing this they were nred upon by a party of 
Indians under command of the noted chief, Poland. Brown was 
instantly killed and Winship received a ball in th-e eye and an- 
other in the arm and falling to the ground though conscious of 
what was going on, feigned death. Both were scalped. Hear- 
ing the firing a part of the guard hurried to the scene while the 
rest went back to the blockhouse. They came upon the Indians 
just as they liad completed their bloody work and opened fire up- 
on them. The Indians who numbered from 15 to 20 selected 
each a tree for shelter and returned the fire. Stephen Manchester 
and another of the guard concealed themselves behind a large 
log. He determined to shoot the chief and after several shots 
had been exchanged without efi'ect on either side, Manchester 
cautiously pushed his cap into sight and the savage leader put a 
ball through it. Thinking he had killed his foe. he began to re- 
load his musket and while doing this exposed himself to Man- 
chester's view who had risen and leveled his firearm towards the 
chief. In another instant Poland fell dead, whereupon the In- 
dians raised a hideous yell and fled. Several others of the sav- 
ages had been killed or wounded while none of the guard had been 
injured. The bodies of Brown and Winship were taken by the 
team to the blockhouse and the scene as their families gathered 
around them can well be imagined but imperfectly described. 
The fall of Poland put an end forever to all Indian troubles in 
that quarter. Winship recovered but he carried the hideous scars 
of the conflict to his grave. The widow of this Ezra P.rown 
married Eleazer Chase and was the mother of Rev. Nathaniel 

Chase. 

"When Brown by Poland slain, 
Winship twice scalped was lain ; 
The Indian yell, 
Triumphant pierced the air ; 
But Manchester was there 
Undaunted by a fear 
And Poland fell." 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 83 

CHAPTER X. 
Revolutionary Soldiers. 

Of the 47 settlers in Bucktown before January i, 1784, who 
obtained setthng- lots, thirty-one are known to have served in the 
\\"ar for Independence. (_)ne otlier, John \\'arrcn there is little 
doubt also, served a period on the Maine coast. Other Revolu- 
tionary soldiers to the number of at least seventy afterwards re- 
sided in the town. Xo other town in this section in proportion 
to its population had for its residents so many of these patriots. 
They represented as has been stated in their service almost every 
important engagement from Lexington to Yorktown. They have 
left the stamp of their individuality, character, patriotism and love 
of liberty upon their descendants and upon the town. 

In these characteristics tlieir posterity may justly challenge 
comparison with any. We have never seen among the people of 
any town such individuality as among the people of Buckfield. 
The following is a list of the names of these Revolutionary sol- 
diers and their service so far as is known to us. and the places 
Mdiere they died : 

Thomas Allen, died in Hartford. Probably served under assumed name. 
Samuel Andrews, died in Bridgton. 

Mark Andrews, 4 years. At the Siege of Boston ; died in New York. 
Israel Bailey, died in Buckfield May 20, 1830. 
William Berry, Falmouth, died Aug. 29, 1824, aged 71. 
Thomas Berry 
David Briggs 
James Bonney 
Levi Bryant 
Josiah Bryant 

Lt. John Buck, was at Ticonderoga; died in Woodstock. 
Moses Buck, Stony Point, Saratoga, Valley Forge ; died in Sumner 
Aug. 24, 1826. 

Amos Brown, Ticonderoga, Fort George, Stony Point, Valley Forge. 

Nathaniel Chase, Coast of Maine. 

Eleazer Chase, 3 yrs. service. Ticonderoga, Valley Forge. 

Jabez Churchill, 4 yrs. service. At Gen. Burgoyne's Surrender. 

William Churchill 

Daniel Crockett, on the Hudson. 

John Crockett, on the Hudson 

Benjamin Cox, died in Turner. 

Lemuel Crooker, died in Hebron. 



84 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELI) 

William Cilley, 3 yrs. service. 

Benjamin Cilley, 3 yrs. service; died in Brooks. 

Gershom Davis, on the Hudson, Penobscot Expedition. [ 

Joshua Davis, Fort George, Ticonderoga, White Plains, Saratoga, 
Valley Forge. Description: age 18 stature 5 ft. i in. complection light. 

Stephen Drew 

John Drake 

John Ehvell 

Jonah Forbes, Minute man, in service during battles of Lexington and 
Concord, at White Plains, Harlem Heights, Monmouth. Served 7 yrs. 

Isaac Foster, served in Mass. before coming to Maine. 

David Farrar, Rhode Island Expeditions. 

Samuel Frink, served in "Expedition to the Northward." 

Nicholas Fernald, Long Island, White Plains. 

Joseph Foss, Maine Coast. 

Jonathan Gardner, Rhole Island Expeditions. 

Luther Gardner, Mass. Militia. ("Active service" says History of 
Hingham, Mass.) 

Samuel Gilbert, died Apr. 2"], 1851, aged 79 yrs. 7 mos. 

Nathaniel Gammon, Falmouth ; died in Buckfield. Buried in Lowell 
Cemetery. 

Enoch Hall, Maine coast; died in Buckfield. Buried at East Buckfield. 

Jeremiah Hodgdon, Long Island, White Plains ; died in Hebron Aug. 
24, 1823. 

Ephraim Hathaway, Harlem Heights ; was one of guard of prisoners 
of Gen. Burgoyne's army; died in Buckfield. Buried on Capt. Benj. 
Maxim farm. 

William Harlow 

Ephraim Harlow 

Sergt. Richard Hines, Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Valley Forge. Died 
in Turner July 26, 1834. 

John Irish, Bunker Hill. 

William Irish, Maine coast. 

Joseph Irish, Maine coast. 

James Irish, Maine coast. 

Elijah Jordan, Bunker Hill, Stony Point; died in Buckfield. Buried 
in Whitman burying ground. 

James Jordan, White Plains, ^'alley Forge ; died in Monroe, March 
31, 1813. 

Sergt. Samuel Jenkins, Ticonderoga, Saratoga, ^Monmouth, Valley 
Forge; died in Buckfield Nov. 15, 1832, aged "/"i. 

John Lapham, Kings' Bridge ; died in Buckfield, buried on Leonard 
farm, near highway to South Paris. 

Stephen Lowell, Maine coast ; died in Buckfield, buried in Lowell Cem- 
etery. 

Caleb Lombard, Stonv Point, Vallev Force ; died in Turner Apr. 19, 
1833. 

Joseph Lothrop, Rhode Island Expedition ; died in Buckfield, buried in 
Whitman burying ground. 



HISTORY OF BCTCKFIELD 85 

David Lowe, 

Nathaniel Leonard, 

Enoch Leathers, Maine coast. 

Bradstreet Mason, Yorktown. 

William Mayhew, 

Thomas Macomber, 

Robert Martin, Valley Forge. 

John Mathews, 

Daniel Packard, a "matross" in the artillery ; Ticonderoga, White 
Plains, Stony Point, Monmouth ; died in Woodstock. 

Job Packard, 

Josiah Parris, Rhode Island Expeditions; battle near Newport. 

Philemon Parsons, 

Eleazer Parsons, Penobscot Expedition ; died May 22, 1844, aged 82. 

Reuben Packard, died in Hebron. 

Thaddeus Pratt, Bunker Hill. Buried in graveyard in DeCoster neigh- 
borhood, Hebron. 

Bennett Pompilh', White Plains, Harlem Heights, Stony Point, Sara- 
toga, Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth; died in Turner, Dec. 5, 1834. 

Lt. Dominicus Record, Mass. militia. 

Jonathan Record, stationed at the Gurnet, Plymouth Harbor. 

David Record, stationed at the Gurnet, Plymouth Harbor. 

Simon Record, Mass. militia. 

Joseph Roberts, Bunker Hill, Maine coast; died in Buckfield. 

Joseph Roberts, Jr., Bunker Hill; served 5 yrs. ; died in Brooks. 

Jonathan Roberts, Bunker Hill, Maine coast ; died in Buckfield. 

Tobias Ricker, died Dec. 20, 1845, aged 88. 

Capt. John Rider, died in Buckfield. 

Joel Rich, died in Eastern Maine. 

Ichabod Spencer, 

Jotham Shaw, 

Nathaniel Shaw, Penobscot Expedition ; died Sept. 30, 1833, aged 88. 

John Swett, 2 yrs. service. Valley Forge. Died in Buckfield, now 
town farm July 14, 1844. 

Samuel Taylor, White Plains, Germantown, Alonmouth, Yorktown. 
Died in Buckfield ; buried in Whitman burying ground. 

Asa Thurlo, Penobscot expedition, Rhode Island expedition. 

Richard Thurlo, Siege of Boston. 

John Thurlo, Siege of Boston, Penobscot expedition. 

Davis Thurlo, 

James Thurlo, Penobscot expedition. 

Jesse Turner, died in Buckfield. 

Daniel Tuttle, Yorktown, died in Turner. 

Samuel Tobin, Penobscot Expedition, died in Buckfield, Dec. 29, 1834. 

Lt. Isaac Thayer, Trenton, died in Buckfield, buried on Capt. Benj. 
Maxim farm. 

Jacob Whitman, Minute man, Bunker Hill, Harlem Heights, Stony 
Point, Saratoga, Trenton. 

Joshua Wescott, Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Valley F'orge, drummer; died 
Buckfield, Feb. 6, 1826. 



86 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Benjamin Woodbury, died in Buckheld. 

David Warren, Maine coast, died Aug. 27. 1847, aged 87, Hartford, 
buried in Buckfield, Ricker yard. 

John Warren, Maine coast, died in Buckfield. 
Peter White, Maine coast, died in Standish. 
Joshua Young, Bunker Hill, died in Buckfield. 
Caleb Young, 

We feel quite sure that John Warren's name is properly 
placed in this list. It is given on the rolls as John \\'arren, Jr. 
As his father's name was Tristram, he was not strictly speaking 
Junior. We have found several similar instances. John Buck, 
son of Abijah Buck, in the census returns and in tax lists and even 
in conveyances was generally described as John Buck, Jr. He 
was several times so designated by his father in his diary show- 
ing that custom to be common. \\'e have very little doubt that 
our first settler, John W^arren and John Warren, Jr., the Revo- 
tionary soldier is the same person. There were several Thomas 
Coburns who served in the great struggle for American Inde- 
pendence. None were from Dracut and the description of them, 
such as we have, does not correspond witli that of the Thomas 
Coburn who settled in the township. 

As a number (nearly 20) of Windham men afterwards set- 
tled in the township and some were at Bunker Hill, the following 
lines will not be out of place here : 

"When Boston called for aid, 
Hearty response was made; 
And Windham's sons, 
To Bunker Hill then rushed. 
To see the tyrant crushed ; 
And Britain's threats they hushed, 
\\ ith Yankee guns." . 

An act was jiassed by Congress in 1818 giving a pension to 
those miable by reason of sickness or infirmity to support them- 
selves and families and the following were pensioned under this 
law : 

Jabez Churchill Elijah Jordan 

Benjamin Co.x Caleb Lombard 

Amos Bro'.vn Daniel Packard 

Joshua Davis Bennett Pompilly 

Jonah Forbes Thaddeus Pratt 

Richard Hines Samuel Tobin 

Jeremiah Hodgdon Joshua Wescott 
Samuel Jenkins 






HISTORY OF P.UCKFIELD 87 

Another act was passed in 1820 fur thcise pensioned t(T make 
a statement under oath in court of the value of their property and 
whether they had conveyed away any of it for the purpose of ob- 
taining' a pension. Tlie judges after investigation certified to the 
value of the property. Tlie entry on the clerk's docket was 
"stricken off under the following nan-;cs : Benjamin Cox, 
Joshua Davis, Samuel Tol)in. Sanuiel Jenkins and Elijah Jt)r(lan. 
The aflidavit of Daniel Packard made at tlie June term of the 
court in 1S20 is here given: "Daniel Packard, aged 70 years, a 
resident of ISuckfield in the County of ( )xford doth on oath de- 
clare that he served in the Revolutionary V\'ar as follows: \'iz.. 
as a Private in the Companies commanded b}- Isaiah Stetson, Ab- 
ner Howard, Thos. Houghton, in the Regiments commanded by 
Cols. Gam'l Bradford, Mich'l Jackson, John Bailey and Col. 
Sprout in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continen- 
tal Establishment as is more particularly mentioned and described 
in his original declaration for pension, made on the /th day of 
April, A. D., 1818, and on which declaration his certificate of 
pension, Xo. 5744, was granted. Schedule of real and personal 
estate (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me 
the subscriber, viz. : Xo real estate. Personal estate, viz. : One 
cow, two spring pigs, four articles of Iron Ware, 17 a:rticles of 
Eartliern & Crockery Ware, 4 do Pewter Ware, 4 do Wooden 
\\'are, 2 chests. 4 chairs, 4 knives & forks, 5 tablespoons. Family 
residing with me Daniel Packard, wdio by occupation am a 
Laborer, which I am not able to pursue by reason of the Rheu- 
matism and the general infirmaties of old age — myself and my 
wife, Elizabeth, age 66 years not able to support herself, by rea- 
son of the Asthma. Daniel Packard." 

The total value of his property as fixed by the court was $22. 
His name was not "struck off" the roll. Afterwards several of 
tliese old soldiers whose names had been dropped from the list of 
pensioners were restored. 

On the 3d day of January, 1826, a meeting was held at Pari., 
Hill, at which Capt. Josiah Parris presided. It was called for the 
pm-pose of taking action on a petition to (/on.gress, for a change 
in the pension laws and was attended by those presumably not 
pensioned. Those from Buckficld who signed the petition were 
as follows : 

Josiah Parris Thomas Berry 

job Packard David Record 

Simon Record Ichabod Spencer 



88 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Jonathan Record Joseph Lothrop 

Jacob Whitman Gershom Davis 

Jonathan Gardner Ephraim Hathaway 

David Briggs Luther Gardner 

David Lowe Caleb Young 
Enoch Hall 

There were several Revolutionary soldiers not pensioned, then 
living in Buckfield whose names are not on this petition and 
among them were Nathaniel Chase, Benjamin Woodbury and 
Jasiel Smith. Later an act was passed by Congress, giving a 
pension to all surviving soldiers of that war. The last survivor 
of the Revolutionary Patriots in Buckfield was Capt. Josiah Par- 
ri5 who died in 1856, aged 95. Xext to tlie last was Jonathan 
Record. He passed away in 1855, aged nearly 105. 

Veterans of that Patriot League, 
Which Freedom's clarion hailed 
Heroes of the sinewy arm. 
Whose vigor never failed ! 
In every soil your names we find. 
For Freedom has your name enshrined. 
* * * * 

Our Hero Sires ! — of noble blood 

Your children boast to be— 

And bear with pride these cherished names 

That consecrate the Free — 

Yet, have thej-^ reared no column proud, 

Where Patriot Pilgrims might have bowed. 

Then bid it rise — the granite pile — 

From these old mountains wrought — 

Until some tribute from each one 

Be reverently brought ; 

And when these names are written there, 

Embalm it with the Patriot's prayer. 

And as in sky-bound grandeur rests 
This shaft of filial pride — 
A sentinel to guard the Past, 
The Future may it guide ! — 
And like a Bunker Hill may be, 
A watch-tower raised to Liberty. 

April, 1855. Columbia Gardner. 






HISTORY OF BUCKFIF.LD 89 

CHAPTER XI. 
War of 1812. 

A second war with Great Britain broke out in 1812 over the 
impressment of x\merican seamen to serve in the British navy. 
EngHsh ships of war often stopped our sailing vessels and under 
pretense that the men wanted, were subjects of Great Britain 
would seize them without process of law and force them to serve 
under the British flag. Naturalized citizens suffered most, by 
this outrageous conduct, but native born citizens were also taken 
and obliged to serve under a foreign flag. Press gangs, as they 
were called, often took men in port and hurried them away for a 
long service in English war vessels. ( The story of the impress- 
ment of Xoah Hall is given elsewhere.) 

The matter became so offensive that the Government was forced 
to declare war. The contest ended m 1815 with the Battle of 
Xew Orleans where Gen. Andrew Jackson with his Western rifle- 
men won a great victory over English soldiers, who had fought 
against the Great Xapoleon. A treaty of peace had however 
been signed at Ghent, Belgium, some weeks before that but there 
being in those days no telegraphs, Atlantic cables or steamers, 
they had not heard of it. The people of Buckfield heartily sus- 
tained the Government in the prosecution of the war and while 
the merchants and business men of Massachusetts became greatly 
discontented at the measures passed by Congress, the people of 
Maine generally favored the policy of the Admin.istration from 
beginning to end. One Buckfield company was raised and sent 
into the vicinity of Lake Champlain and was attached to the 45th 
Regiment, U. S. Infantry. The company was commanded by 
Capt. David Bryant and the service was from January to June, 
1813. 

Two companies, one commanded by Capt. Jesse Turner and 
the other by Capt. Daniel Chase were sent to Portland in Sep- 
tember, 1814, on the alarm that British ships of war lay outside 
the harbor and might come in at any time and bombard the city. 
They both were in service from the I3tli to the 24th of September 
with three days additional for travel. On the rolls of these three 
companies which are given below are not found the nanies of 
several men from Buckfield who were in service during that war. 



90 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 



Several not found in the roll of Capt. David Biyant's conipanv 
are known to have been in the battle of "'Shadagee Woods/" 
where John Hussey was killed. 

John, Joseph and Benjamin Packard, sons of Daniel, the Rev- 
olutionary soldier and Israel Smith were in a number of engage- 
ments which took place in that quarter. John received three flesh 
wounds in battle. Joseph commanded a batteaux and Israel 
Smith another batteaux in one of the expeditions. Joseph and 
John both died from the effects of wounds received. Benjamin 
ser\-ed through the war and was in the battles of Chippewa, 
Lundy's Lane, Sag Harbor and Fort Erie. He afterwards re- 
ceived a pension. 

Roll of Capt. Bryant's company : 

Captain, David Bryant 
Lieutenant. .Tohn Barrett 
Lieutenant. Jonas Cobuin 
Ensigrn. Stephen Spaulding: 



Joshua Carpenter 



Sergreants. 



Charles Young 



Samuel Record 



Walter Carpenter 
Asa Coburn 



Corporals. 



James Keen 
Elnathan Packard 



Privates. 



John Bonney 
Leonard Benson 
William Brown 
James Buck 
Moses Bisbee 
Isaac Bonney 
John Cox 
John Crockett 
Joseph Crockett 
Job Cole 
Gersham Cole 
Charles Crooker 
David Cox 
Joshua Davis 
Nathaniel Foster 
John Gilcrease 
Albert Hayford 
Israel Heald 



William Howland 
Simeon Hussey 
Francis Keen 
Andrew Keen 
Simeon Xewton 
Thaddeus Oldham 
Daniel Packard. Jr. 
Solomon Phelps 
George Parsons 
Samuel Randall 
Oliver Robbins 
Simon Record, Jr. 
Elijah Stevens 
Moses Stevens 
Xathan Tobin 
Joshua Taylor 
"\\'illiam Tucker 
Isaac Voung 



Roll of Capt. Turner's Company : 



Captain. 

Lieutenant 

Ensign 



Jesse Turner 
iloses Buck 
Richard Waldron 



HISTORY OF BUCKF1F.LD 



91 



John Warren 
Isaac Turner 



Sergeants. 



Jonathan Buck 
Job Prince 



Collins ^^'oodbury 
David Farrar 



Corporals. 



Richard Hathaway 
Noah Hall 



Elisha Buck 



Musicians. 



Jonas Spaulding 



Samuel Andrews 
Jacob. Allen 
Leonard Brock 
Ansel Bisbee 
John Buck, ;id 
Samuel Buck 
John Brock, Jr. 
James Buck 
Hopstill Bisbee 
Cyprian Bowker 
Warren Bessee 
Bela Churchill 
Caleb Cushman 
John Chaflin 
Shepherd Churchill 
Sampson Cole 
Mathew Churchill 
James Cole 
Jonathan Dammon, Jr. 
.Joseph Dammon 
John Drake 
Stephen Drake 
Bela Farrow 



Nathan l^'arrow 
Ira Gardner 
Benjamin Jordan 
Elijah Jordan, Jr. 
James Lewis 
Jacob Leonard 
David Low 
Robert Leigton 
John Mayhew 
Nathaniel Mayhew 
Nathan Maxim 
Alfred Monk 
Samuel Packer 
Stephen Packard 
Abner Rounds 
William Spaulding 
Moses Stevens 
John Thayer 
Levi Turner 
Luther Turner 
Samuel Tucker 
Joseph Turner 
Andrew Warren 



Roll of Capt. Chase's Company 



Captain, Daniel Chase 

Lieutenant, David Record 
Ensign, Dominicus Record 



Tobias Ricker 
Moses Packard 



Sergeants. 



Nath'l Gammon, Jr. 
Sam'l Record 



James M. Pote 
Ephraim Ricker 



John Packard 



Corporals. 



Miisicians. 



Lewis Record 



Pel ham Bryant 



Daniel Briggs 
Obediah Berry 
Simeon Buck 
George Bryant 
Peter Berry 



James Jewel t 
Mark Lowell 
Brazilla Latham 
John Milliken 
Constantine Matthews 



92 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



"William Cole 
Joseph Chase 
Aaron Doble 
Daniel Dag^gett. Jr. 
George I>ay 
Martin Drake 
Stephen Davis 
Joseph H. Davis 
Lewis Drew 
Josiah Drew 
Cornelius Drew 
Isaac Ellis 
Ayra Forbes 
Samuel Fernald 
Abijah Foster 
Micah Foster 
Robinson Gammon 
Thomas Gammon 
Daniel Hutchinson 
John Hodgdon 
John Hall 

Stephen Hutchinson 
Andrew Hall 
Miles Hines 
Israel Hodjrdon 
Joseph Irish 



John Mathews. Jr. 
Robert Martin, Jr. 
David Merrill 
Samuel Matthews 
Elnathan Packard 
Jonathan Packard 
Samuel Packard 
Aaron Parsons 
Jonathan Record. Jr. 
Timothy Record 
Thomas Record 
Seth Roberts 
Ezekiel Record 
Ebenezer Record 
Simon Record. Jr. 
Levi Rogrers. Jr. 
Josiah Swett 
Amos Shaw 
Oilman Thompson 
Jonathan Thompson 
Elias Taylor 
Joshua Whitman 
Moses Younsr 
Isaac Young 
Benjamin Young- 



The action of the people of the town is worthy of note. At a 
town meeting held in January. 1815, before they had learned that 
a treaty of peace had been signed or of Gen. Jackson's brilliant 
victor}- at Xew Orleans, a committee consisting of Timothy 
Hutchinson, Ephraim Hathaway. Enoch Fhilbrick, Benjamin 
Spaulding and Lamard Swallow was selected to draft an ad- 
dress to the General Court which it did in the following language: 

"The Inhabitants of the town of Biickliekl deeming the pres- 
ent to be an important and critical period in the affairs of their 
Country — a period big with important events which call loudly 
upon the wisdom of legislators — a period w hich threatens our 
country- with rtiin, our liberties with destruction and our dearest 
rights and privileges with annihilation, beg leave to address the 
Legislature and humbly beseech them to abandon measures cal- 
culated to increase the Hames of party spirit and for sowing the 
seeds of domestic discord and adopt such a< have a direct tend- 
ency to secure the safety and independence of all. We cannot 
but view with astonishment that the Legislature should have pur- 
sued any course which had a direct tendency to Dissolve the 
I'nion, thereby destroying the remaining hope of our once flour- 
ishing and happy Countn.-, as their appointing Delegates to the 



HISTORY OF BLTKFIELl) 93 

Convention at Hartford and raising a standing army at the ex- 
pense of this State, thereby bringing us into a state of anarchy 
and confusion, an event which will unavoidably lead to civil war 
and effusion of blood, we therefore respectfully request your 
honors to realize the danger which threatens our liberty and inde- 
pendence and in your wisdom avert the threatened blow and dis- 
pel the clouds which hover over our political hori/^on, before they 
burst with unwarrantable fury on our devoted heads. We are 
now led to inquire by what unfriendly cause has it happened that 
^lassachusetts, the great and powerful State of Massachusetts — 
one so highly respected — a State, which formed a powerful link 
in the Union, should in the course of a few years be reduced to 
such a miserable and deplorable situation. This is an inquiry in 
which we are sorrowfully interested, and we shall enter upon it 
with all the anxiety and attention due to its importance. We con- 
sider it as one of our most sacred duties to point out as far as in 
our power, the cause of our distresses. We do not hesitate to de- 
clare that in our opinion a treacherous influence from our enemies 
in England and the internal enemies of our General Government, 
and disappointed ambition has promoted the calamities, which for 
years has troubled us and has caused the Administration of our 
State Government to pursue a policy so adverse to the best in- 
terests of the Country, thereby encouraging the enemy to con- 
tinue to enforce their unjust propositions for peace. We beg 
leave to assure your honors when we are callcvl upon by the State 
authority to draw the sword from its scabbard, it shall be directed 
against none but our common enemy and those who are striving 
to destroy the Constitution of the United States, an event which 
will strike a deadly blow at our independence purchased only by 
the blood and toil of our forefathers. We earnestly pray your 
honors to think seriously on these things and weigh them with 
that importance which they demand and as in duty bound will 
ever pray." 

A vote passed apparently without opposition to have the ad- 
dress signed by the moderator, clerk and selectmen in behalf of 
the town and forwarded to the General Court. It was probably 
never presented as it was soon after known that peace had been 
declared. 



94 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XII. 
Early Duckfield \'illagf. 



4 



The tirst improvements made in the town were also the first 
made in what is now Buckfield \'illage. The beginning of the 
town, therefore, was also the beginning of the village. Benjamin 
Spaulding, as we have seen, was the first settler. His lot com- 
prised that part of the present village north of the river and east 
of the road to Paris Hill. Dominicus Record, who aftenvard ac- 
quired this tract, added other lands — some of which were on tiie 
south side of the river. The next who came and settled here 
after Spaulding were Edmund Chandler and Isaac Foster. 
Chandler's lot was on the north side of the river and included the 
upper water privilege. Foster's was on the south side bat prob- 
ably did not quite reach the river. These three were the original 
owners of the land in what is now Buckfield \'illage. It is a re- 
markable fact that all three disposed of these holdings. Two of 
them finally moved out of town. Chandler erected the first mill 
and was undoubtedly the first miller. lust at what time the first 
mill was built, we are unable to state but it must have been in 
1 78 1 or the following year. Abijah Buck, in his diar}', mentions 
a freshet in 1785 which carried away mills and bridges. Domini- 
cus Record came here in 1782 and moved his family here the fol- 
lowing year. He became an o\\"ner in the mills then or shortly 
after. For many years they were called "Records ^lills, " a 
name which was extended to the place. 

^lark Andrews came here from Turner in the early nineties, 
if not before, and opened a store. \\"e find the record of a con- 
veyance in 1782 wherein he is described as being of Bucktown. 
He was probably in the township temporarily and may have sold 
goods for Abijah Buck. Certain entries in his diar\- or account 
book would indicate that Abijah Buck was ver}- early a trader in 
a small way. It is certain, however, that Andrews never took up 
a settler's lot which it is probable he would have done if he had 
been a permanent settler here before Jan. i, 1784. We do not 
find his name among the heads of families living in the township 
when the census was taken in 1790. It does appear, however, 
among those of 1800. He was collector of taxes in Turner in 
1789 and a resident there in 1790 when census was taken and in 



HISTORY OF BLXKFfELD 95 

1792 as appears by the record of a conveyance of land that year. 
We tirst learn of him in the township of Sylvester in 1780. He 
was then a young, energetic business man and unmarried. One 
tradition says that he hrst began trade in lUickheUl at or in the 
vicinity of Abijah Buck's. Another, that it was in a building at 
the corner made by the I'aris Hill and Sunmer roads near the Dr. 
W'm. liridgham place where there was a blacksmith shop. Moses 
liisbee, who married Ellen Buck, had a dwelling house and black- 
smith shop there in 1800. He afterwards moved to Bethel and 
thence to Waterford and gave his name to the little hamlet since 
called "Bisbeetown."' 

In 1795 Ednumd Chandler then of Xew Gloucester, sold one- 
half oi the grist and saw mill, the upper water privilege and his 
settling lot to Mark Andrews and Dominicus Record. They 
divided this property. Andrews taking the dwelling house and 
settling lot and Record the mills and water privilege. He owned 
half of the mills and half of the water privilege before and by 
this division with Andrews became sole owner. 

Joel Foster came here from Pembroke, ^^lass., in 1784 or 1785. 
He married Phebe, daughter of Abijah Buck, July 10, 1788. 
Some years afterwards he put up a small establishment and began 
the business of a tanner — the first in the place. He purchased 
the lot on the south side of the river near where the Spaulding 
store now stands and erected a public house for travelers which 
was the first in the village. This public house was afterwards 
known as the "Bridgham Tavern" and during a part of that 
period a store and the post office was kept in a part oi the house. 
The place w-as burned in 1854. 

Dr. Samuel Frink settled here in the practice of his profession 
in 1797, under unfavorable circumstances as related in the an- 
nals. But Doctor Elienezer Taylor is said to have been here in 
1789. He was not a resident however in Bucktown when the 
census was taken in 1790 nor in 1800. His name is on the tax 
lists for 1803 and 1804. He became a resident of Farmington in 
the latter year. 

Doctor William Bridgham from Xew (doucester first settled 
in Sumner but in 1803 he moved to Buckfield Village which he 
made his home till his death. He probably when first coauing 
here lived for a while at Doctor Frink's. There was afterwards 
a bitter enmitv between them as related elsewhere and in the con- 



96 HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 

troversy another physician. Doctor Samuel Fr\'e, figured quite 
prominently. 

Josiah Parris originally from Pembroke, Txlass., came in 1793 
and settled on the lot where the ^Methodist church now stands. 
Some years afterwards he engaged in trade. He brought his 
goods from Portland on horseback in saddle bags. His sister, 
Ruth Parris, married ]\Iark Andrews and they lived for a time in 
the same locality till Andrews became the owner of a part of the 
Edmund Chandler property when they moved to the other side 
of the river. The property on Loring's Hill he sold the same 
year (1795) to Samuel Andrews who had moved into the village 
form Turner. Samuel Andrews was elected the next year as one 
of the selectmen of the town and was twice re-elected. He 
moved away in the latter part of 1799. \\ hile here he was 
chosen as representative to the General Court — the first from 
Buckfield. He may have engaged in trade while living here. He 
was the first trader in Sylvester. He died in Bridgton, ]\Ie., at 
an advanced age. 

In 1799 the town instructed Mark Andrews to "request Con- 
gress for a post," and a post ofiice was established here in 1800. 
On the first day of January. 1801, it was opened for business. 
Mark Andrews was appointed postmaster. In 1802. An- 
drews sold the property which he had acquired from Edmund 
Chandler and Dominicus Record to Benjamin Spaulding and his 
two sons, Benjamin, Jr., and Leonard. Xo mention of any store 
is made in the conveyance. 

In 1802, William Campbell of Xew Gloucester purchased a 
lot and a right to erect a dam on the lower privilege for a sufli- 
cient water power to run a fulling mill. The next year he settled 
here. A dam was built and the "clothing works" erected. He 
shortly afterwards married Martha, daughter of Dominicus Rec- 
ord, and built a house on the Hartford road, in which they lived 
till 1824, when he sold out and moved to Sangerville. ^le. 

John Loring came here from Turner in 1804 and bought land, 
orignially a part of the Isaac Foster settling lot. What is now 
the principal business street of the village running from the 
square to the railroad station, was an alder bog and was fenced to 
keep the cattle from getting into the mire. From the bridge to 
the hill, afterwards called Loring's Hill, was a way built of logs 
with earth thrown on top. The next March lie moved his family 



i 



HISTORY Ol-'' RUCKFII'.LD 97 

here. He c:it down tlie alders and built a store 25 feet square, in 
which he traded for about 20 years. The business had been all 
on the other side of the river. I'eople told him that he would 
have no trade on that side but he liveil to see the great bulk of the 
business done over what was once the alder bog". He engaged in 
the manufacture of card boards in a mill on the lower privilege. 
The business is descril^ed by Lucius Loring in his reminiscences 
given elsewhere. 

Soon after William Campbell came a hat shop was erected on 
the north side of the river on the Hartford road. It was first 
operated by Don D. Daggett and, afterwards by (ien. Eliphalet 
Packard, who also had his dwelling house on the same lot as the 
shop. 

Stephen ilusworth in early conveyances is described as a sad- 
dler. What the extent of his business was or whether he had a 
distinct place of business from his residence we are unable to say. 
In 1805 the new county of Oxford having been incorporated with 
Paris as the shire town, Daniel Howard, Esq., from Turner 
opened the first law office in Buckfield. He purchased of the 
heirs the Thomas Coburn settling lot on Xorth Hill. We do not 
know positively whether he lived in the village or on his farm. 
John Carsley was appointed a deputy sherifif, the first one in the 
town. His successor in that office was Doniinicus Record, Jr. 
Daniel Howard in 1807 sold his farm on Xorth Hill to Thomas 
Long, the grandfather of Hon. John L^. Long and probably he 
sold his practice which appears to liave licen considerable to 
Henry Farwell, Esq., who succeeded him. Jt is presumed that 
the alder bog had, at this time, pretty much disappeared for Far- 
well purchased land of Abraham Doble and Stephen Bosworth on 
this tract adjoining the mill privilege lot. The building in which 
lie lived and had his office was, however, on the latter lot and in 
]8ii he tocjk a lease of the lot on which it stood for 15 years from 
Dominicus Record, Sr. Dominicus Record sold in 1809 two 
pieces of land on the north side of the river to Nathaniel Howe, 
Esq., of Paris. He was a lawyer and had an office here for a 
short time but finally went elsewhere. 

Ezra and Samuel Ste])hens went into trade in the building oc- 
cupied by Henry Farwell. The former died ahout 1818 and the 
goods and eliects of the firm were purchased at "vendue sale" by 
Ste])hen Phelps who had come here from Alinot and began bu.si- 



98 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

tiess as a merchant. Later Phel]-.s traded on the other side of the 
river. He purchased of Henjamin Spa.dding- the "Chandler 
Ijouse"' and 70 rods of land with it. A right of wav for carriages 
and foot persons "to the road on the mill jnie" was reserved. 
Phelps' son died a few years ago an admiral in the United States 
Xavy. Enoch Crocker went into trade in the same building 
which had been occupied b}- the Stephenses and probably at the 
time Stephen Phelps began trade on the other side of the river, 
lienry Farwell appears to have owned 90 feet of ihe land in the 
corner made by the Hartford and Paris Hill roads on the north 
side of the stream. On this land was a building of some kind 
about 1820. Stephen Phelps that year purcliased the land of rar- 
well "including the frame thereon standing" and erected a "new 
store" and traded there for awhile. He sold to James fewett and 
Zadoc Long. The latter formed a partnership with Lucius Lor- 
ing and they did business as merchants till February, 1825 when 
Mr. Loring took the business of his father to settle after which 
he traded alone for awhile in the Loring store on the other side of 
the river. Mr. Long ran the store alone, after dissolving part- 
nership with Lucius Loring. He was elected town clerk and the 
n.otices for town meetings were posted in his store. Stephen 
f^helps went out of trade and was appointed a deputy sheriff. 
Enoch Crocker went to Minot in the twenties and shortly after- 
wards to Portland. 

About 1814 Samuel F. Brown opened a law oitice here. He 
niarried Jane, daughter of Dominicus Record. He built an ofiice 
on the Hartford road which he occupied for over 35 vears. 
Henr}- P^arwell, about 1820, went to Dixfield and died there. 
The Spaulding store on the north side was sold to several parties 
^,bout 181 8. It was afterwards burned and the old high school 
building was purchased and moved to the same side of the river 
in the corner by the bridge. It has since been known as the 
"^Morrill store." 

Thomas R. Waterman, blacksmith, moved into the village 
from the northwestern part of the town in 1818. His place of 
business was on the northern side of the river near the mills and 
waterpower was furnished to run a trip hammer. Barnabas 
Perry originally from Pembroke, Mass.. had had a blacksmith 
shop on the south side of Loring"s Hill since 1812 at whicli time 
he went there from "Spauldings Mills." 



HISTORY OF RUCKFIF.LD 99 

About 1821 Xathan Atwood from Livennore settled in lUick- 
fiekl \'illage. He first began business as a clerk in a store but 
in the autumn of 1822 he formed a partnership with Zadoc L<jng 
which lasted a year. Shortly after he leased land on the south 
side of the river in the corner formed by the Turner and Hebron 
roads. He erected a store on this lot in which he did business 
for many years. He afterwards purchased the land on which 
the store was built. [Morrill & Cole now do business in the same 
building. It has been known as the "Atwood Store" to this very 
dav. In our boyhood, Ephraim Atwood, a brother of Xathan. 
was doing business there. In 1824 X'athan Atwood purchased a 
lot on the Paris Hill road and erected a dwelling house on it 
which he painted red. Here he lived until his death. During 
the same year, William Campbell sold the clothing works and 
lower mill privilege to \\'illiam Cole and moved to Sangerville 
where he died past 80 years of age. 



100 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Early Educational History. 

When the Commonwealth of ^Nlas.'^achusetts disposed of the 
township to Abijah Buck and his associates, 280 acres of land 
were reserved for the use of a Grammar School. It had then 
been nine years since the first settlement. It was seven more be- 
fore the plantation was incorporated into a town and five more 
before measures were taken to build any schoolhouses. Many of 
the children of the earliest settlers during" that period had grown 
to manhood and womanhood. What advantages they possessed 
towards obtaining a knowledg'e of reading, writing and "casting 
accounts," we do not know. As in all new settlements, the chief 
concern for the first few years was to obtain a subsistence and get 
started in life. After that, it was natural that jxirents should ll 
turn their attention towards giving their children the rudiments, 
at least, of an education. We find from a few ancient documents 
that have come under our notice that some who were born during 
the earUest times in the township wrote fine hands and spelled 
fairly well, whence we conclude that reading and writing must 
have been taught them and probabl}-, also, a limited knowledge, at 
least, of arithmetic for this was considered as essential as the 
other two. How they acquired this knowledge we cannot say. 
Perhaps in private schools in part. but. no doubt, largely from in- 
struction at home by their parents. The preachers in most of the 
early settlements were expected to look after the educational in- 
terests of their people as well as their spiritual Avelfare and many 
of them taught school, especially in the winter season. If 
they were college graduates they often gave an impetus to educa- 
tion which characterized the town or section where they labored. 
In some cases religious denominations founded higher institu- 
tions of learning than the common schools. Buclvfield does not 
appear to have been favored in either of these ways but there is 
evidence that her people in the early times set a high value upon 
the benefits to be derived from what may be termed a business 
education while some looked beyond this and gave their children 
a course of instruction at an academy and even at college. 

Capt. Josiah Parris was one of those who prized education 
very highly. He named a son and a daughter for an edition of 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 101 

^'irg■il which was a famous one with the scholars of that day. 
It uas called the "Delphin edition of \'irg-il."" C'apt. 1 'arris 
named his son. Virgil Delphini and the daughter. Delphina. 
The son was the first one to obtain a college education in the town 
of Bucktield. The daughter, too. in addition to having' been edu- 
cated in the highest schools of the city of Portland, acquired a 
musical education which was a rare tiling for those times. One 
of the Loring family stated that Aliss Delphina 1 'arris was not 
only the most beautiful young lady in the region but was also the 
most accomplished in the county of Oxford. Her untimely death 
was a great blow to her family, fiance and friends. 

John Loring and Thomas Long gave their children a good 
education for those times. The former in early life had been a 
school teacher in the old Commonwealth. While residing in 
Buckfield, though not of the dominant party, he was frequently 
elected as a member of the board of school committee chosen "to 
inspect the schools." Political feeling in those days ran high and 
we have little conception of the general prejudice against a fed- 
eralist. The fact that Mr. Loring was repeatedly elected as a 
member of the school board is evidence of the interest that the 
people generally had in their children acquiring at least a good 
common school education. Mr. Loring's son, Lucius, though 
intending a life in trade attended the academy at Hebron and 
fitted himself for a school teacher. Thomas Long's son. Zadoc, 
also graduated at Hebron Academy and before entering business 
life as a merchant taught school and gained a great reputation as 
an instructor. He was regarded as the most intellectual and 
learned man of his day in the town. He possessed al>ility to take 
a leading part in the halls of legislation and was several times 
withiout any solicitation of his, the candidate of the whig party in 
the Oxford District for Representative to Congress. 

Timothy Hutchinson was a noted school teacher. He was a 
very able man. He drafted the resolutions of protest adopted by 
the town in 1S15 against the course of the Commonwealth in op- 
posing the second \var with Great Britain. Lemuel Crooker, Jr., 
son of one of the first 47 settlers attained a great reputation as a 
school teacher. Me was called in convc}-ances "schoolmaster," 
the only instance of the kind we have foun<l. 

The descendants of Rev. Xathan'.el Chase and Elder William 
Irish have ever been noted for their interest in education. When 



102 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

the authors of this history were mere boys, Thomas Irish and 
Thomas Chase were noted school teachers. The fomier was con- 
sidered to be authority in all disputed matters in grammar and 
many are the pupils and teachers who have gone to him with 
doubtful passages in parsing. The author of Brown's "Grammar 
of Grammars" once said that he had never met Air. Irish's equal 
as a grammarian. 

Dominicus Record, Sr., valued education so much that one of 
his daughters was given an academical education at Fryeburg 
and other places. The children of Benjamin Spaulding appear to 
have been well educated for those times. Several of the sons 
were in business and were very successful. They were much in 
town office and one, Benjamin, Jr.. was repeatedly elected to the 
General Court and the Maine Legislature. In the chamber of his 
house the first school in the village was taught. 

Although living on a farm in the extreme southern part of 
the town where school privileges have been always limited, Jacob 
Whitman set a high value upon education for his children. One 
of them was a lay preacher, another a physician and the youngest 
son gathered together a fair library for those days. In the next 
and succeeding generations, several of the old soldiers' descend- 
ants obtained a college education. The Longs, the Chases, the 
Lowells, the Bonneys, the Hutchinsons, the Princes and the Har- 
lows are other families which have sent out successful teachers 
and men of affairs. The Leonards, too — Nathaniel, Jacob and 
Susan, were teachers of mark in their day. The latter fitted her- 
self for an instructor of youth at the Buckfield "Grammar 
School" and among her classmates were Mrgil D. Parris and 
William Bicknell. We believe that no town in the county in pro- 
portion to its population has sent out so many first class instruc- 
tors as Buckfield. 

On the incorporation of the town in 1794, the sum of 50 
pounds was raised, for the support of schools. The next year 
but 30 pounds were raised. One from each district or neighbor- 
hood was elected to look after its educational interests. Those 
thus selected were of the very first of the men in their sections. 
Here are tlieir names : 

Lemuel Crocker William Berry 

Joseph Chase John Swett 

Enoch Hall Tobias Ricker 

Ephraim Hathaway Abiiah Buck 

David Farrar Jacob Whitman 
Mark Andrews 



HISTORY Or BUCKFIELD 103 

In 1796, 60 pounds were appropriated for schools and for 
several years the same sum was raised, in 1798 it was decided 
to choose three men for a school committee and the selectmen, 
Lemuel Crooker, Samuel Andrews and Abijali P>uck were consti- 
tuted as that committee. The same year it was voted to raise 
money to build four school houses. This vote was reconsidered 
and it was then voted not to l)r.ild any school liouses that vear. 
Nothing- after this appears in the records about building school- 
houses. They were probabl}' erected by the people in each dis- 
trict or section. The four wliich it was j)roposed to build were 
to be located as follows : One, at Simon Record's ; another, be- 
tween Abijali Buck's and Thomas Allen's ; the third near foseph 
Roberts's and the fourth near Joim Symonds's. A schoolhouse 
was built between Abijah Buck's and Thomas Allen's before 1801 
for the annual town meeting was held there that year. It was 
no doubt the first one erected in the town. The one near Simon 
Record's was built before 1804 ^^'^^^ probably the other two also. 
At this time there was but one schoolhouse in the town of Paris 
and Turner had only the same number as Buckfield. 

At the annual meeting in 1801 it was decided to divide the 
town into school districts "agreeable to the new law" and the 
school committee was instructed "'to call rhe'.r districts together 
to ascertain their bounds by the 15th of July and make return to 
the selectnien." In 1806 the town was divided into "school ricks" 
or districts and a record for the first time was made of their 
members and boundaries which were substantially as given else- 
where. 

The following persons with their estates were given the privi- 
lege of forming themselves into a school district, which was to be 
called Xo. 8. Abijah Buck, Nathaniel Buck. ]\Ioses Bisbee, Ben- 
jamin Spaulding, Abel Spaulding, Leonard S])aulding. Larnard 
Swallow, John \\'arren, Abijah Buck. Jr., Jonathan Buck, John 
Allen, Nathaniel lUick. Jr., Dennis Newbegin and David Bryant. 
At the raising of the frame for the school house in District No. 7, 
it became necessary according to the custom of those times to 
give it a name. The proceedings on such occasions were some- 
thing as follows: After the frame was uj) a man selected for the 
purpose woidd mount one of the timbers and. perhaps say : "Tlr.s 
is a fine frame and it deserves a good name. Now what shall we 
L;dl it"^" Another from the op])osite side replied, usuall}' in 



104 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

doggerel. Something to drink was always an important fearare 
of the ceremonies. 

\\ hen a certain raising in the Whitman neighborhood took 
place, the tradition is that the name was thus given: ""The sills 
are level and the posts are pLimb. And we will call it Andrew 
Jackson." In 1822 the frame to a large new bam was raised 
on the Bonney fann. The naming was as follows: 

"This is a fine frame. 
Twent\- posts support the same : 
Built of the best pine and ash. 
Its owner's purse is full of cash ; 
He's treated well, we'll not complain. 
It shall be called the new State of Maine." 

On the occasion of the raising of the frame for a school house 
at East Buckfield. the committee having the building of the 
structure in charge could not agree upon a name. Finally 
Joshua Davis proposed calling it the Federal school house from 
the large number of that political faith in that section and as an 
especial compliment to the chairman of the committee ( presum- 
ably Jonathan Roberts) wlio was their leader. This was agreed 
to. The place became known as the Federal Corner — a name it 
bears to this day. 

School houses were probably erected in most of these districts 
during that or previous years. The annual town meeting in 1S07 
was held in the one built in the village on Loring's Hill. This 
house is now in existence. It is located on the eastern side of 
the river and was occupied some years ago as a shop by Gilbert 
Tilton. The sum of S400 was raised that year for the support 
of schools. In 1808 the first committee chosen to "inspect the 
schools" was elected. The members of the c:^mmittee were Gen. 
Henr\- Farwell. Dr. W'm. Bridgham and Rev. Daniel H itchinson. 
The school agents were : 

Thomas Joselyn John Loring . 

Xath'l Chase Elisha Morton 

Sam'l Tucker Stephen Drew 

Job Packard Lamard Swallow 

There was no supervision of schools in Turner at this time, 
although the town had been incorporated about eight years prior 
to Buckfield. The first comn^ittee of three for this purpose there 
was chosen in 181 1. 



HISTORY OF BLTKFIF.LD 



105 



CHAPTER XIV. 
Town IxcoRroR.\Ti:r) and I-'irst Tov. x Mkktinc. 



It appears that the affairs of the plantation were managed by 
the proprietors without a plantation organization till the town 
was incorporated. Some fifteen years after the first settlement, 
there being a sufficient population, a movement was made to have 
the plantation incorporated into a town. Abijah Buck was 
authorized by a number of the people to present a petition in his 
and their behalf, to the General Court, for that purpose. This 
document accompanied Buck's petition. Both are as follows : 

We whose names are herewith undersigncfl, being proprietors and 
owners of a Plantation called Bucktown in the County of Cumberland, 
avouch Abijah Buck to be our petitioner, at the General Court when as- 
sembled at Boston in June. 1793, to petition to the General Court, that the 
Plantation of Bucktown may be incorporated into a town. 



Bucktown May th 22 1792 

Benjamin Spaulding 
Jonathan Tyler 
Nathaniel Buck 
Dominicus Record 
John Rider 
Mose-s Stevens 
Josiah Tilson 
John Warren 
Leonard Spaulding 
Benjamin .Spaulding, Jr. 
John Brock 
Ichabod Waterman 



Thomas Joselyn 

Wm. Mayhew 

Thomas Lincoln 

Joseph Tyler 

John Clay 

John Buck 

James Hussey 

Moses Bisbee 

Shubal Marsh 

Benjamin Spaulding' ( ?) 

Joel Foster 



To the Honorable, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled : 

The Proprietors and Inhabitants of the Plantation of Bucktown in the 
County of Cumberlanti, humbly represent that the said Plantation has 
been and still is under great difficulties and embarrassments on account 
of their inability to increase improvements and roads, and settle order 
and regularity among themselves; that this inability arises from the want 
of an incorporation into a town ; and your petitioners desirous of having 
the same accomplished, do l)y our agent, Abijah Buck, humbly Pray the 
Honorable Court, to grant tlie said Plantation to be incorporated into a 
Town, and that the same may be called Bucklieid, and as in duty Ivnmd 
will e\er pra\'. 

AmjAH BiCK. 



106 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The petition was not favorably acted on that year. The act 
of incorporation, however, passed early the next year and be- 
came a law March i6, 1793. It is as follows: 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Court assembled and bj- the authority of the same : That the following 
described tract of land. viz. : Beginning at the Northwest corner of 
Hebron and running S. 70 deg. E. on the Northerly line of said Hebron 5 
miles and about 190 rods, until it strikes the west line of Turner : Thence 
N. 26 deg. E. by same line, five miles and about one hundred rods until it 
meets the Southeast corner of No. 6 or Butterfield : Thence running S. 
81° W. eight miles and two hundred rods to the East line of Plantation 
No. 4: Thence by said line running S. 13° E. to the first nfentioned 
bound together with the inhabitants thereon, be and hereby are incor- 
porated into a town, by the name of Buckfield. And tlie said town is 
hereby invested with all the powers, privileges and immtmities, which oth- 
er towns in this Commonwealth do or may enjoy by law. 

And be it further enacted hy the authority aforesaid that William 
\\'idgery, Esq., be, and he is hereby empowered and requested to issue his 
warrant, directed to some suitable inhabitant thereof, to meet at some 
convenient time and place to choose all such oiihcers as towns are by law 
required to choose in the month of INIarch or April annually. 

Commonwealth of ^Iassachu setts. 

CUJIBERLAXD, SS. 

To DoMixicus Record of Buckfield 
in said county. Yeoman. Greetixg : 

In pursuance of a law of this commonwealth, directing me to issue my 
warrant to some suitable inhabitant of said Buckfield, I do hereby request 
you forthwith to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Buckfield to meet 
at your dwelling house in said Buckfield on the first Monday in April next 
at ten of the clock, in the forenoon then and there to chuse all such of- 
ficers as towns are by law required to chuse in the month of March or 
April annually. Given under m\' hand and seal. 

Dated at New Gloucester, the first day of A larch in the year of our 

Lord in 1794. 

William Widgerv, 

Justice of the Peace. 
Commonwealth of Massachl'Setts. 

CuMP.ERLAXn, SS. 

In pursuance of a warrant to me directed by William Widgery Esquire 
of new Gloucester to Notify and Avarn the Inhabitants of Buckfield in the 
County aforesaid to meet at my dwelling house in said Buckfield on the 
first Alonuay of April next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, then and 
there to chuse all Such Officers as Towns are by Law Required to chuse 
in the month of March or April annually — 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 107 

I do therefore notif}' and warn all the male Inhabitants of Buckfield 
aforesaid to meet at the time and place and for the purpose Abovesaid. 
Buckfield, IMarch the 4th Day in the Year of our Lord, 1794. 

DoSiiMcus Record. 

At the town meeting, held in pursuance of the foregoing war- 
rant, the following business was transacted : 

Officers chosen : 

Moderator — Dominicus Record. 

Town Clerk — Thomas Allen. 

Selectmen — Lemuel Crooker, William Harlow, Jonathaii 
Roberts. 

Assessors — Lemuel Crooker, Jonathan Roberts, Ephraim 
Hathaway. 

Treasurer — Dominicus Record. 

Collector of Taxes — William Lowell. 

Tvthingmen — Benjamin Spaulding, William Doble. 

Road Surveyors — John Buck for the "Middle District;" Phil- 
emon Parsons for the "Third District;" jasiel Smith for the 
"West District;" Tobias Ricker for the "Xorth East District;" 
Enoch Hall for the "Sixth District;" Amos Brown for the "Sev- 
enth District;" Benj. Spaulding for the "North West District." 

Abijah Buck, Ephraim Hathaway and Lemuel Crooker were 
chosen a committee "for to Lay out Roads." 

The people voted for Governor, Lieut. Governor and Sen- 
ators at the same meeting with the following result : 

For Governor, Samuel Adams had 31 votes 

For Lieut.-Gov., Moses Gill, 25 

For Senators, William Widgery, 17 

Josiah Thatcher, 9 

Daniel Mitchell, 9 

At the adjourned meeting, held at the same place April 21st, 
it was voted "to choose two more selectmen in Addition to three 
already chosen," and Dominicus Record and Benj. Spaulding 
were elected. They were also chosen assessors. It was voted 
"to Dismiss the Committee tiiat were chosen to Lay out Roads." 
Voted "to Dismiss Benj. Spaulding from being road surveyor," 
and Abijah Buck was selected in his place. Thomas Lincoln 
was chosen surveyor of lumber. 



108 HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 

Voted to choose two more tythingmen, and Thomas Lowell 
and Seba Smith were elected. Smith asked to be "dismissed" 
from the position and Job Prince was chosen in his place. The 
surveyors of roads were made fence viewers. Mark Andrews 
was elected sealer of weights and measures; John Richardson. 
Nathaniel Buck, hog reeves and field drivers ; Jonathan Phil- 
brick, pound keeper; John Warren, deer reeve; Joel Foster, 
sealer of leather. One hundred pounds were raised for "the 
benefit of the town roads and highways." The price of a man's 
labor was fixed at four shillings per day and oxen at three shill- 
ings. The price of "carts, Ploughs and other utensils, to be at 
the Surveyors Discretion." Fifty pounds was raised for the 
support of schools. The money "to be Aplied to that use, within 
twelve months, otherwise, if not, to be returned into the Town 
Treasury for the use of the Town." Voted to have one town 
pound to be 25 ft. square and "to postpone the building of 
stocks." Several town meetings were held during the year, and 
a number of roads, which had been laid out, were accepted. It 
was voted to have the town roads three rods wide, and the new- 
ones located "to be opened' up"" within fourteen months. Domini- 
cns Record, Abijah Buck and Jonas Coburn were selected as a 
committee "to Inspect into the Survey of the Tov.n. ordered by 
the late Act of the General Court." 

The town voted in favor of the separation of the District of 
Maine from Massachusetts, and Abijah Buck was elected as a 
delegate to represent the town in the matter. 

At a town meeting held in December, it was voted to raise 
money "to defray the charges that has arisen from the High 
Sheriff's visit." 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 109 

CHAPTER XV. 

BoiXDARv Difficulties. 

The proprietors of the town in their original petition for the 
purchase of the township, asked for a tract of land "to the value 
of fi\ e or six miles square." 

Six miles square was the usual size of a township, although 
some were much larger and many were smaller. 

When the contract to purchase was made, the proprietors 
expected to obtain a tract approximating this size, but when the 
township had been surveyed, they found that the northern bound- 
ary line did not extend so far north by one mile as they had 
expected. They claimed that the surveyor had made a mistake. 
The land in this mile-wide strip was fertile and valuable and they 
coveted it. Accordingly, in the early part of the year 1788, 
Abijah Buck in behalf of the proprietors, sent the following 
petition to the General Court : 

"Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature 

assembled. 

The Petition of Abijah Buck of Bucktown or No. 5 in the County of 
Cumberland, 

Humbly Sheweth, that by reason of a mistake of the surveyor running 
the line between us and Butterfield, the latter plantation has the advan- 
tage of about 2000 aquers southerly, out of the quantity unsold us by the 
Committy on Lands for the Commonwealth, and the proprietors of said 
Butterfield have accordingly availed themselves of the said mistake greatly 
to our Damage for several important Reasons, and inasmuch as the 
Lands of the Commmonwealth extend northerly, so as to fully satisfy the 
Proprietors of Butterfield, he humbly prays in behalf of himself and 
others to take the matter into your Honors wise consideration, and make 
such disposition as may seem just and proper. 

Dated at Bucktown the 2 Day of February A. D. 1788 

Abijah Buck." 

This petition met with a decided opposition. The proprietors 
of Butterfield did not care to part with this tract of valuable land 
for other land to the northward of their township and nothing 
came from Buck's efforts, although an act passed the legislature 
to refer the matter to the Committee on Eastern Lands. 

In the autumn when the deed of the township was about to be 
executed another efifort was made by the proprietors to have the 



^ 



no HISTORY OF BLTKFIELD 

matter adjusted to their satisfaction, but this time it appears to 
liave been more with the hope of g-etting some compensation than 
of obtaining the tract of land in question. Abijah Buck and Ben- 
jamin Spaulding in behalf of the proprietors, signed the petition 
which was dated at Boston Nov. 5, 1788. In it they stated that 
the Land Committee "though sensible of the wrong done" deemed 
it out of its power to remedy it without authority from the Gen- 
eral Court. The House of Representatives on the loth of the 
same month passed a resolve for the Eastern Lands Committee 
to take the mater into consideration and "make such allowance" 
as should appear just. The Senate, however, voted to non-concur. 
So the matter ended. 

It will be noted by inspection of the deed, that three of the 
boundaries were uncertain. And in the act of incorporation of 
the town two were still left indefinite. In order to remedy this, 
the General Court June 26, 1794, requested a survey of the 
township and a plan of it to be made. The committee chosen by 
the town for the purpose was Abijah Buck, Dominicus Record 
and Jonas Coburn. Thomas Joselyn was the surveyor. The line 
between Buckfield and Turner was run in October. The distance 
was found to be 5 miles and 180 rods. The south and west lines 
were run in Dec. of that year. The former was 5 miles and 144 
rods. The latter 4-I miles. The line between Buckfield and But- 
terfield was ran in April, 1795. Distance, 8 miles and 200 rods. 

The line between Buckfield and Hebron by this survey, was 
made 46 rods less than in John Jordan's survey of 1785, and the 
line between Buckfield and Turner was made 80 rods more. This 
latter plan was adopted as the true one, and the boundaries fixed 
in accordance with it. 

But two years later the southern boundary line of the town 
became a matter of serious controversy between Hebron and 
Buckfield. A new survey of Hebron had been made, and by the 
terms of the original grant to Alexander Shepard it appeared that 
a tract of some 2600 acres of Buckfield was included in it. The 
matter got into the courts and Hebron's claim seems to have been 
sustained. In consequence, Abijah Buck for the proprietors, pre- 
sented the following petition to the legislature : 

"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court 
assembled, 

Humbly shews, Abijah Buck for himself and his associates, proprie- 
tors of the town of Buckfield in the Countv of Cumberland, that in No- 



HISTORY OF BTCKFUlLD HI 

vembcr 1788, they purcliased of the committee for the sale of Eastern 
Lands, a tract of land containing al-.out ^0,033 acres, which has since 
been incorporated by the name of Bnckfield and for which they paid a 
full consideration. That since the said purchase, a new survey of the 
town of Hebron has been made, by which the southerly part of the said 
town of Buckfield has been encroached upon to the amount of twenty-six 
hundred acres. 

Wherefore your petitioners pray, that tlie Legislature would examine 
the premises and restrict the town of Hebron within its ancient limits, 
or make such compensation to your petitioners for the loss, as to vour 
justice and wisdom may seem proper. 

Boston, June 15, 1799. Abij.\h Buck." 

It does not appear that anything came from thi.s petition. 
The town took the matter in hand and for a time seems to have 
acted independently of the proprietors. 

In 1803, however, they united in a petition to the General 
Court to settle the matter of the conflicting grants, and in June of 
that year an act was passed authorizing Peleg Coffin and John 
Reed "to settle the bounds of said towns, provided that the pro- 
prietors of Hebron submit their claim in writing and in such 
submission release all rights in the grant to the proprietors of 
Buckfield." This was done. The line was again run and found 
to be as claimed by Buckfield. In Feb. 1S07, the matter not hav- 
ing been finally adjusted on account of the death of Hon. Peleg 
Coffin, another act was passed by the General Court, authorizing 
John Reed and William Smith to perform the duties required by 
the former act. 

The town lines of Hebron were resurveyed by Lothrop Lewis 
of Gorham, under the authority of Reed and Smith, and bv his 
survey, made that year, it appeared th.at the tract claimed out of 
Buckfield was somewhat different than the grant to Shepard war- 
ranted, and that three other tracts — one adjoining Paris, another 
Turner, and the third Otisfield. amounting to about 1300 acres, 
had been appropriated by Shepard or his heirs, which were not 
really included in his grant. The matter was finally settled by 
allowing Hebron to hold these three tracts. So Buckfield re- 
tained the disputed territory and its southern boundary was 
definitely fixed on the line run by John Jordan, and Hebron ap- 
pears to have obtained, after all. no other land llum it had sup- 
posed it rightfully held, while it actually lost what it claimed out 
of Buckfield. The loss of a few lots to Paris and the gain of 
some from Hartford and Sumner will appear in the annals. 



11-2 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XM. 

BuCKFIF.I.n \'lLLAGE AbOT.T 1825. 

In the corner made by the Turner and Hebron roads on the 
south side of the river was the store in which Ephraim Atwood 
traded for many years. South of it was another store in which 
Enoch Crooker had traded. There was also a building of some 
kind adjoining, perhaps a dwelling house. 2\ext south a black- 
smith shop of Col. Aaron Parsons. On the other side of the 
Hebron road in the corner made by it and the road over Loring's 
Hill was the Loring store. Farther west was the dwelling house 
of John ^Morrill, blacksmith. Over the well was a "well sweep" 
and to it was attached an "old oaken bucket" by which the water 
was taken from the well. On the rising groitnd still farther to the 
west were the buildings of Richard Waldron. Rodney Chaffin, 
who married Waldron's daughter, aftenvards lived there. Final- 
ly Sydenham Bridgham acquired possession and lived there for 
■ many years. On the right hand side of the street leading over 
Loring's Hill next beyond the store was the dwelling house of 
John Loring. Esq. Further up the hill was the village school 
house. Xext on the same side of the road were the farm build- 
ings of Ezekiel Record and a short distance south, those of 
Enoch Philbrick. in recent years the Dean place. Xearer to the 
village on the opposite side of the Loring Hill road were the farm 
buildings of Barnabas Perry, also a blacksmith shop. Towards 
the village square was the cottage once, occupied by Samuel An- 
drews and farther down the Capt. Josiah Parris stand. On the 
right hand side of the road leading to Turner was the dwelling 
house of ^Ir. Jeremiah Bean, also a blacksmith shop. The dwell- 
mg house was once owned by Benj. Spaulding, Jr., and was 
moved from the other side of the river. It was first occupied 
after removal by Benjamin Milliken. On the opposite side of 
the road was the residence of Zadoc Long. Esq., afterwards that 
of Col. A. D. White. Back of these buildings on the river was 
the tannery. Farther down en the same side of the road was the 
original Baptist church used as the town house. In the corner 
on the site of the present Spaulding store was the Bridgham hotel 
— once the Joel Foster tavern. Between it and the bridge was a 
store over which was a hall long known as Bridgham Hall in 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 113 

which were lichl all the villag-e dancing parties and where the- 
atrical shows were given. At one end was a platform for the 
fiddlers and on tlie wall above the motto: "Go it while you're 
young, for when you're old you can't." ( h\ top of the store was 
the flag-pole from which every 4th of July the stars and stri])es 
floated. 

On the north side of the river in the corner l)v the bridge was 
the "new store" built by Step'hen Phelps in which Zadoc Long 
tratlcd. On the opposite corner was the cabinet '^hop of James 
Jewett. Then the residence and hat shop of Gen. Eliphalet 
I^ackard and the Col. Aaron Parsons place. Below on the river 
was the fulling mill and clothing works of William Cole, for- 
merly owned by William Campbell. On the opposite side of the 
street from the mill was the large flat-roofed house with its five 
chimneys, small windows and many rooms, cnce the residence of 
AMlliam Campbell but later owned by William Cole. Where later 
the hotel of America Farrar stood was the residence of Sanmei 
F. Prown, Esq., the village lawyer. His law office in which the 
post office was also kept by him, was situated east of the present 
law office building of Fred R. Dyer, Fsq., and a lane ran down to 
It from the house. Next this to the north was the residence of 
Dominicus Record, afterwards the home of Zadoc Long and now 
"Hotel Long." 

On the same side of the road leading to Paris Hill was the 
academy building. Farther up the hill wai- tlie residence of Rev. 
\\'illiam Pidgin, once the Oren Record place. Farther northwest 
on the other side of the Sumner road was the Dr. William Bridg- 
ham stand. Levi Bryant had a residence in the vicinity. On the 
south side of the Paris Hill road and opposite Dr. Bridgham's 
place was the dwelling house of John Chaffin, a pump maker. 
.\'ext nearer towards the village was the residence of Nathan At- 
wood — painted red. Still farther down was the fine two-story 
residence of James Jewett, now the Wilson Shaw place. Down 
near the foot of the hill was the dwelling house of Mr. Rich, the 
miller. His wife called him "Mr. Itch" by reason of an impedi- 
ment in her speech.- In the vicinity were the residence of Ben- 
jamin Spaulding, Jr., and a house afterwards ow'ned and occupied 
by Ephraim Atw'ood. At the eufl of a lane leading up the river 
was an old two-story house, the residence of Enoch Crocker. It 
was once the residence of Mark Andrews and was probably built 
bv Ednnmd Chandler. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

On the present site of the mills were a grist and saw mill and 
an old shed adjoining. In this vicinity was a blacksmith shop 
owned by Thomas R. Waterman which had a trip hammer run 
by waterpower. Near the present site of the store in the corner 
made by the Paris Hill road and the river was a building in which 
several parties had traded at different periods. This store was 
afterwards burned and the old grammar «cjioo1 building was pur- 
chased and moved here. It was convertetl hito Vs'hat has since 
been known as "the Morrill store." 

The following persons were doing business as traders in the 
village in 1825 : Zadoc Long, Lucius Loring, Nathan Atwood, 
Enoch Crocker and Spaulding Robinson. 



i 



HISTORY OF BIXKFIKLD 115 

CHAPTER X\"1I. 
Annals. 

1795. 

Transactions at town meetings : 

Thirty ponnds were appropriated for schools, 150 pounds lor roads and 
highways. It was voted "to allow the service" of ihe town officers. The 
proposition to raise money for a town stock )f annnunition was voted 
on. — The same sums for labor on the roads for men and oxen were al- 
lowed as the previous year. — Jonas Coburn, Abijah Buck and Benj. 
Spaulding were chosen to take charge of the school lots and look after 
their preservation. — The road, "as laid out from the bridge near Benja- 
min Spaulding"s mill to the mill aforesaid" was accepted.— Thomas Joselyn 
(spelled on the records "Joslin") was voted 15 slrillings "for his Services 
in Surveying and Drawing a Plan of the Town. ' — It was decided to have 
iwo guide posts erected, one at the "crotch of the road Leading to But- 
lertield" and tlie other "near Simon Records." 

1796. 
Sixty pounds were voted for schools and 200 pounds for repairs of the 
roads. The selectmen were instructed to expend the money raised for 
repairs of highways. The sum of $60 was appropriated "to defray charges 
the year past." — Jeremiah Hodgdon's "rate 6s., iid. half penny" wa.s 
"voted off," also John Brown's "poll tax 0. 6. 4." — Voted "not to vote off" 
Tristram Warren's tax. — -The assessors were directed to go in person to 
llie inhabitants to take the valuation. — It was also decided not to send a 
representative to the General Court this year and that "the Town en- 
demnity the Selectmen in case a penalty is incurred." — The following 
roads were accepted: ist. That from "the Hebron road to Stephen 
Rider's;" 2nd, "tlie one by David. Gammon's ;" 3rd, the "road from Na- 
thaniel Chase's to Turner town line;" 4th, "the road from Joel Foster's to 
Abijah Lapham's;" 5th, "that from the bridge near the Mills to the X. W. 
corner of Isaac Foster's settling lot." — At the Presidential election l)ut one 
elector was voted for, Stephen Longfellow, Esq., who had 21 votes. 

1797. 
The same amounts as in 1796 were voted for the support of schools 
and for the repair of highways. — The town treasurer was allowed four 
dollars a year for his services. — The selectmen's 1)ill-. for their services the 
past year were as follows: Lemuel Crooker, $3.50; Benjamin Spaulding, 
$6.17; Samuel Andrews, $3.31. Thomas Allen for liis services as town 
clerk was voted $9.52. — The selectmen's settlement with the town treas- 
urer for the years 1795 and 1796 was accepted. — They reported that they 
found in the treasury ^73.07, "due from the Collector for 1795. $23.76. 
Due from the Collector for 1796, $84.51. — The demand the Town hath on 
the Treasurer is $181.51." — .\t a meeting held in September, "voted for 



lie' HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 

the Selectmen to acquaint the town with the reasons for chusing another 
Collector" and it was further, "voted not to commit the Bills to Ephraim 
Hathaway" and to have another collector. — The collectorship was "set up 
to vendue and the Taxes were bid off to collect for iid. per pound." 
David Warren was chosen as the new collector and Enoch Hall was ac- 
cepted as his bondsman. — The laying out of several roads was accepted; 
1st, one between Thomas Lowe's and Daniel Merrill's lands and running 
over land of Andrew Twombly and land of Valentine Mathews to Hebron 
line. 2nd, from the N. W. corner of John Hussey's land to S. E. corner 
of "Mr. Lapham's land, then turns a square corner on Levi Cushman's 
land till it joins the road already laid out." — "Voted to continue the road 
from John Hussey's to the Hebron road" and the one from "Closes Bis- 
bee's to John Hussey's" was discontinued. 

1798. 

Hon. Increase Sumner was the only candidate voted for this year for 
Governor. He received 40 votes. — David Warren was re-elected collector 
cf taxes and Jabez Pratt was accepted as his bondsman. — The same sums 
were appropriated as in the two previous years for schools and repairs of 
the roads. — It was also voted "to put up to vendue to maintain John 
Brown and his wife — struck off to James Waterman at sixty-five dollars 
one year exclusive of Doctor's bills." — It was further voted that "the Se- 
lectmen shall proceed to take the Steps of the Law to know whether the 
heirs of John Brown shall maintain him, or whether he shall be main- 
tained at the expense of the Town." — The highway tax of Caleb Young and 
the poll taxes of Jesse Turner, Consider Sampson and Samuel Tyler were 
"voted off." — It was decided "to establish a road that leads from James 
Waterman's and Thomas Joscelyn's to Paris" and that "the bars upon the 
roads be kept up that have been up heretofore." — At a town meeting held 
in May, it was decided to send a representative to the General Court. 
The election resulted as follows: Samuel Andrews, 45; Benj. Spaulding, 
I ; Dominicus Record, i. Lemuel Crooker, Abijali Buck and Dominicus 
Record were requested to give him instructions. — A controversy over the 
boundary line between Hebron and Buckfield had arisen, as elsewhere re- 
lated, which explains the action of the town relating to instructions. — 
There is the record this year of a strange proceeding, sixteen persons with 
their families, and Dr. Samuel Frink and nine others without families, 
who had come into town for tlie purpose of settling "not having ontained 
the Town's consent" were warned to depart within fifteen days. 

This action seems a little "previous" and hasty. Some good people 
and desirable settlers were driven away. Others must have got the consent 
of the authorities to stay, for they continued to reside here and were later 
regarded as among the desirable citizens of the town. The descendants 
of some of these people reside in Buckfield "unto this very day." — The 
General Court passed an act in November of this year, giving the town 
$257.49 for taxes which had been illegally assessed against Buckfield, and 
abating the tax for the year 1798, "said town being exempt by law from 
State and Continental taxes until November, 179S." 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 117 

1799- 

The annual town meeting appears to have been somewhat exciting. 
Samuel Andrews was elected moderator and Enoch Hall and Simon Rec- 
ord, "monitors." The meeting was called at the house of Sanutel An- 
drews. After choosing the town clerk and deciding to elect tlie selectmen 
l)v written ballot, a vote was passed to adjourn to t!ic Jiouse of Dominicus 
Record, where the meeting began '"fortliwith." The first vote taken was 
not to reconsider the vote taken for town clerk and the action in electing 
liim by "hand vote" v/as approved. Samuel Andrews, Enoch Hall and 
William Berry were chosen selectmen. They were also elected "by hand 
vote" for assessors. IMark Andrews was chosen treasurer. "The Col- 
lector's office was put up to vendue and struck off to collect for Seven 
pence per pound by Simeon Bicknal." He was one of those who, the year 
before, liad l^een ordered to lea\e town "with all under his care." After 
an adjournment for half an hour to permit voting for governor, senators 
and councillors, the "Collector's office was put to vendue a second time and 
was bid off to collect for Nine pence per pound," by Enoch Philbrick. 
Nathaniel Chase was accepted as his bondsman. The same sum (60 
pounds), as in the previous years, was appropriated for schools, but the 
amount usually raised for repair of the roads was cut down one-quarter. 

The laying out of several roads was accepted. — David Warren was al- 
lowed $6 "for warning Sundry Persons out of Town." — At a meeting in 
May, Nathaniel Chase, Samuel Andrews and Enoch ETall were selected 
as a committee to "perambulate the Town roads" and alter them where 
necessary, and locate new roads where required, and "to procure the min- 
utes of the County Road and alter it where they think necessary, and to 
erect monuments at proper places to preserve the memory of the roads." 
■ — It was proposed to refer to disinterested persons the matter between 
the town and the proprietors respecting the public lands. It was 
voted not to send a representative to the General Court. "Voted that the 
roads which have been bridle roads remain so tlie ensuing year." — Captain 
-Mark Andrews was chosen a conmiittee "to request of Congress for a 
Post to come through this Town." — Natlianiel Chase, at a meeting in 
December, was chosen one of the selectmen, Samuel Andrews having 
moved out of town. — A town way "from Turner line to Hartford by 
Nathaniel Chase's and Joseph Roberts, Jr.'s," was accepted. Also, "a road 
from Joseph Roberts' to Richard Taylor's bridle road" and one "from 
Sumner line by Tristram Warren's to Luther Gardner's." — Those quali- 
fied to vote according to the warrant this year were required to be able 
to pay "to one single tax, besides the Poll Tax, a sum ecjual to a Poll 
Tax."" 

iSoo. 
The law regarding the qualification of voters appears to liave been 
changed since the meetings of the previous year. Now it was only re- 
quired for one to be a voter that he be able to pay a single poll tax and 
a sum in addition equal to two-thirds of a poll tax. — Oren Record was 
elected collector of taxes at eleven pence on the pound. The sum of 



118 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

$200 was raised for schools and £200 for the repair of highways. — A road 
"leading from Jacob Whitman's to the County Road" was accepted. Also, 
the road leading from the county road "to Samuel Webb's by Enoch 
Hall's. The road "from Nathaniel Chase's to Daniel Crockett's" called 
the "last road laid out in that quarter" was discontinued. Later in the 
year other roads were accepted and discontinued ; first, the one "leading 
from Jonah Fobes' to the bridge near John Carsley's" was accepted. 
That "from Jonah Fobes' to Samuel Tobins' " was discontinued. Also, 
the road "near Carsley's bridge betwixt John Young's and John Roberts' 
land to the road leading from Joseph Roberts' to Tobias 
Ricker's." — At a town meeting September 22d, it was voted "not 
to accept of Mr. Nathaniel Chase as a Town Minister in case he is or- 
dained." Joseph Roberts, Jr., Simon Record and Lemuel Crooker were 
chosen "to inform the Council that the Town does not accept him for a 
Town Minister." — The record does not show that the people of the town 
voted this year for electors for president and vice-president. A U. S. 
census was taken this year. It shows that Buckfield had more population 
that any other town in what was originally the county of Oxford. 

1801. 
The annual election this year was "held at the school house between 
Abijah Buck's and Thomas Allen's." George Ricker was chosen collector 
of taxes. The appropriations for schools and repair of roads were $200 
for the former and £200 for the latter. — The vote for governor in April 
showed that the people of the town still clung to the doctrines of the 
federal party. Gov. Caleb Strong had 23 votes, Elbridge Gerry had 12 
votes. The following entry on the Clerk's records showed the financial 
standing of the town: "Settled with the Town Treasurer and found in 
the Treasury sixty-seven dollars and five cents. Due from Oren Record 
$172.94." — A post office was established at the village Jan. ist, and Capt. 
Mark Andrews was appointed as postmaster. 

1802. 
The sum of $500 was voted for schools and £200 to be expended on 
the roads. Joel Foster was chosen collector of taxes at one shilling and 
one penny on the pound, and Dominicus Record was accepted as his 
bondsman. Voted "to excuse Hatevil Hall from being Hog Reeve." 
The poll taxes of David Br>ant and Silas Coburn, also eight shillings 
and sixpence — what remained due from Jacob Doty — were "voted off." 
It was decided to get the timber to build a town pound off the public land. 
"The pound to be 30 feet square with cedar posts 7 feet above ground and 
cedar rails and a good gate." The construction was awarded to Enoch 
Philbrick who had been pound keeper for several years. He was to have 
$25 for building it. The first regimental muster in this part of the county 
was held at Norway' this year. There were six companies from the towns 
of Buckfield, Norway, Paris, Oxford, Rumford and Otisfield. Col. Levi 
Hubbard of Paris was in command of the regiment. Mark Andrews of 
Buckfield and William Livermore of Livermore, Majors, and William C. 



I 



inS'l'ORV OV BL'CKl'lKLD 119 

W'liitney of Hebron, Adjutant. The otticers of the Buckfield compati3^ 
were: Josiah Parris, Captain; Jasiel Smith, Lieutenant; Enoch Philbrick, 
Ensign. The road from Sumner town Hue to I'enjamin Spanhhng's and 
the alteration of the road from the l)ridge near Aiiijah Buck's were ac- 
cepted. The road from Turner h'nc to "Irisli's liridge" was discontinued. 
The poll taxes of Philemon Parsons and Samuel Thomas were "voted 
off." 

1803. 

At the annual meeting, it was voted "to accept of voters, as has been 
practicad usually at former town meetings ,and to endemnify the select- 
men .from any penalty on that account, including all who are upwards of 
twenty-one years of age and pay taxes in this town." At a subsequent 
meeting, it was voted "to reconsider a former vote which gave Liberty 
for men to vote that were not qualified voters." Henry Parsons was 
chosen collector of taxes at four cents on the dollar. William Lowell 
and Job Packard were accepted as bondsmen. It was voted "that Nathan- 
iel Chase be taxed as other Inhabitants are in the tow-n." $200 was 
raised for schools and £200 for repair of roads. It was decided to fence 
the burving grounds in town and that "Each District shall fence their 
own burying ground by the Last Day of June next." David Briggs, 
Ephraim Hathaway, Benjamin Spaulding, Abijah Lapliam, Tobias Ricker 
and Enoch Hall were chosen "to call their Districts together in order to 
complete the aforesaid business." Benjamin Spaulding, Jr., was selected 
to go "in company with Nathaniel Chase to enquire of some Lawyer, if 
his Taxation is Lawfull." 

1804. 
Enoch Philbrick, son of Jonathan Philbrick, one of tlie first 47 settlers, 
was chosen town clerk this year. Thomas Allen, who had served in that 
capacity from the incorporation of the town, had moved to Hartford 
where lie afterwards lived till his death. John Carsley was chosen to 
collect the taxes at 4^2 cents on the dollar. Benjamin Spaulding and 
Enoch Hal! were accepted as b.is bondsmen. The sum of $43--i "was 
raised to defray the expenses of the town the past year. The several 
items were as follows: "William Berry's acc't. ag't. the town, $3.64; 
Enoch Hall's acct. ag't. the town, $4.66; Benj. Spaulding's acc't. ag't. 
the town, $8.06; Benj. Spaulding took out of the Treasury, $2.60'/^; 
Thomas Allen's acct. ag't. the town, $6.80; Al^el Drake's acct. ag't. the 
town, $2.00; Ephraim Hathaway's acct. ag't. the town, $5-66; Thomas 
Josselyn's acct. ag't the town, $3.00; Dominicus Record's acct. ag't. tiie 
town, $6.77; total amount of above accounts, $43.21." It was voted to 
raise $40 for "the support of the Poor" of the town. This was tlie first 
appropriation of the kind recorded. One shilling was allowed "for every 
crow killed within the limits of I'ucklield." The qualified voters cast their 
liallots this year for electors for president and vice-president It was 
necessary that the vomers be "male Inhabitants of said town being 21 
years of age and Resident in said town for the space of one year next 
Preceding, having a freehold Estate, vvitlinn said town, of the annual in- 



120 HISTORY OF BUCKFLELD 

come of ten dollars, or any Tistate to the value of two hundred Dollars." 
The republican candidates for electors received 2S votes, the federal 
electors, 7 votes. 

1805. 
A new county by the name of Oxford was organized this year with 
Paris as the shire town. Daniel Howard, Esq., who had within a few 
months moved into the place from Turner — Buckfield's first lawyer — 
represented the town at the courts of "The General Sessions of the 
Peace," held in June and October. He with Dominicus Record was 
selected to remonstrate in behalf of the town against making Fryeburg 
a half shire town. — John Carsley was appointed a deputy sheriff, the first 
in town that we have any record of. He was one who had been warned 
out of town in 1798. — The appropriation for the repair of the roads was 
increased to $1000, one-third of which was to be expended in labor. The 
sum of $40 was raised for the support of the poor. The war on the 
crows continued and $10 was raised as a "crow tax." It was also decided 
"to tax all the Ministers excepting a poll tax."- — Among the new names 
of the minor town officers for this and the precedmg year first appearing 
on the records, are those of Benjamin Woodbury, Elijah Jordan and 
Joseph Lothrop. They had served in the War of the Revolution. — The 
ballots cast at the gubernatorial election showed that the town had fully 
passed into the hands of the republican party. James Sullivan, its candi- 
date, had 61 votes, while the federal party candidate. Gov. Caleb Strong, 
had only 20. The strength of the federal party in town was at East 
Buckfield where it held out for a long time afterwards. 

1806. 
The "crow tax" was reduced to $5. Enoch Hall was selected by the 
town to defend the law suit brought by Nathaniel Chase against the 
assessors for taxing him in 1805. Zach. Soule was Chase's attorney, and 
Emer\' and Howard were for the assessors. The action was entered 
"Neither Party" at the May Term, 1807. — On June i6th, a total eclipse 
of the sun occurred. It became so dark that some stars were visible. 
In some places, it is said, candles were lighted. The superstitious thought 
that the judgment day had come and were badly frightened. There was 
a general feeling of relief when the sun fully shone again. — Enoch Hall 
was allowed $79 for building the bridge over the East Branch. It has 
since been called "Hall's Bridge." The selectmen and school com- 
mittee were instructed to "district the town into School Ricks." They 
made seven school districts substantially as follows: No. i. The N. W. 
part of the town from the Sumner line on the count\' road near James 
Bonney's, then following the road and line between lands of Nathaniel 
Buck and Benj. Spaulding to the John Buck hill, tiien on the Paris Hill 
road to Paris line. No. 2. The S. W . part of the town. No. 3. The S. 
part of the town to South Pond. It included the Whitman, Jordan and 
Lothrop neighborhoods. No. 4. The central portion of the town in which 
were the Foster and Leonard neighborhoods. No. 5. The N. part of the 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIF.LD 121 

town, part of village and a portion of Xorth Hill to South Pond. No. 6 
The S. E. portion to the Twenty-Mile River and to the boundary of 
Xo. 5 on Xorth Hill. Xo. ~. Tlie X. \\. nart of the town. The follow- 
ing persons "had the privilege of forming themselves into a School Dis- 
trict;"' Abijah Buck. Xathaniel Buck. Moses Bisbee. Benj. Spaulding. Abel 
Spanlding, Leonard Spaulding, Larnard Swallow. John Warren. Abijah 
Buck. Jr.. Jonathan Buck. John Allen. Xathaniel Buck. Jr.. Dennis Xew- 
begin. and David Brxant 

1807. 

This year the appropriations were increased $400 for schools, $100 for 
support of poor, $250 for building bridges, $1,000 for the mending and 
making of highways and town ways, and $63.69 for "town accounts." 
The following were the members of the school committee elected: Samuel 
Tucker for ist district, John Buck for 2d district, Jacob Whitman for 
3d district, Daniel Faunce for 4th district, John Loring for 5th dis- 
trict, William Lowell for 6th district, Stephen Drew-, Caleb Young, Zadoc 
Fobes. for "th district: Larnard Swallow for 8th district. James Hussey, 
Josiah Keene, Joshua Irish and Israel Smith were allowed to draw their 
school money and expend it in Hartford. The "Widow Sarah Irish was 
struck oflf for six months to Simeon Buck at five shillings per week to 
be supported with victuals house room, fireing, and in case of sickness 
and for her necessary clothing the town is to provide." It was decided 
by a vote in town meeting to settle the suit of Xathaniel Chase against 
the assessors. "Hannah Damon was put up at vendue, and struck of? 
to Jonathan Record at five shillings, six pence per week." Enoch Hall 
was elected representative to the General Court. It was "voted for him 
not to attend the Winter Session of the Legislature." At an adjourned 
meeting held at the school house "between Stephen Bosworth's and Doc- 
tor Samuel Frink's," it was voted to have "king posts" for the Flail bridge. 
The town lines were "perambulated" this year. — Ephraim Hathaway was 
indicted at the May term of the court of common pleas for disturbing a 
meeting. The indictment sets forth: "That Ephraim Hathaway of Buck- 
field, in the County of Oxford, yoeman, on the ninth day of April, now^ 
last part, — said day being appointed by his Excellency, the Governor of 
said Commonwealth, as a day of fasting and prayer, at Buckfield afore- 
said, with force and arms, entered into a house usually occupied as a 
place for the public worship of God by the Second Baptist Society, in said 
Buckfield and by other good people, who had then and there assembled 
together for that purpose, and wilfully interrupted, and, in a rude and 
indecent manner, wickedly disturbed the said assembly, who 
had, for the purpose of public, social and religious worship, met together, 
against the peace of said Commonwealth and contrary to law!" The 
defendant, at the September term, pleaded not guilty and was tried. 
The jury returned a verdict of guilty and he was sentenced to pay a fine 
of $4 and costs, taxed at $21. g6. He paid and was discharged. The 
State's witnesses were: Jacob Doty, Xathaniel Harlow, and John Sim- 
mons. 



122 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

iSo8. 
Henry Farwell, William Bridgham and Daniel Hutchinson were chosen 
as a committee "to Inspect the Schools through the town." — The "tovn 
accounts" voted this year amounted to $102.08. — It was decided "to bring 
suit against the town of Gorham for the support of Sarah Irish, widow 
of John Irish." — Suit was brought and Buckfield was beaten when 
the case came to me heard in court. — Enoch Hall was re-elected repre- 
sentative to the General Court. — William Doble was selected "to clear 
the jams from the bridge near his house." Voted that "Mr. Xath-miel 
Chase have the Privilege of a gate on the road that leads from his house 
to John Swett's." — David Bryant was allowed $3.36 for making guide 
boards. — It does not appear from the records that electors for president 
and vice-president were voted for, in Buckfield this year. 

1809. 
Henry Farwell was chosen one of the field drivers and hog-reeves. 
Henry Farwell, William Bridgham and John Loring were chosen school 
committee ; John Loring, Josiah Parris and Levi Bryant, committee on 
accounts. Air. Parris was usually selected as one of this committee. 
The school agents were : John Drake, John Loring, Nathaniel Robmson, 
Caleb Cushman, David Farrar, Jr., Nathan Hall, Jacob Whitman and 
Abel Spaulding. — The sum of $3D0 was raised for the support of schools. 
A vote passed to take $100 of this sum and expend it for the support of 
the poor. Afterwards, $100 more was raised for schools. The town ex- 
pense account was $83.59 rnade up as follows: Enoch Hall's acct., $11.09; 
William Doble's, $3.00; Daniel Hutchinson's, $5.86; Oren Record's, $31.05; 
Benj. Spalding, Jr.'s, $8.37; Dominicus Record's, $2.34; Nathaniel Buck's, 
$2.13; Enoch Philbrick's, $8.75; Ephraim Hathaway's, $8.01; Joel Fos- 
ter's, $1.33; Abijah Buck's, $1.66; total, $83.59. It was voted "that it 
shall be the duty of each school agent to take the voice of the District 
in which he Resides upon who shall teach and what time they would have 
their school commence & that, after a teacher Shall be agreed upon by 
the District, it shall be the duty of the School Agent to cause the person 
agreed upon for a teacher to procure a Certificate Signed by one or more 
of the School Committee, of his qualifications, previous to his taking the 
charge of any school in this Town." — In the contest for representative to 
the legislature, Enoch Hall had 51 votes and William Lowell 18. Hall 
was a republican — Lowell a federalist. — The sum of ^7S 'was raised at a 
town meeting in November, "to build a bridge near the town line on the 
road that leads to Turner by Teague's Mills;" $15 "to repair the bridge 
over the outlet of South Pond:" $50 "to repair th.e bridge over a brook 
near Abijah Buck's & to finish building a bridge between Abijah Buck's 
ond Moses Buck'.s" and $20 "to repair the bridge near Record's Mills." 

1810. 
John Loring, Henry Farwell and William Ihidgham were re-elected 
as members of the school committee. The school agents this year were: 
John Drake, Enoch Philbrick, Thomas Long, Nathaniel Leonard, William 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIIiLD 128 

Brock, Xathan Hall, Elijah Jordan, Jonatiian Buck, Xathanicl Harlow 
and Fuller Dike. $200 was raised for repairing the roads and $150 for 
support of the poor. The town having been beaten in its suit against 
Gorham, for supporting the widow, Sarah Irish, it was voted to raise $100 
to earn,- the suit to the Supreme Court at Portland. Voted to raise 
money to defray the expense of the indictment against the town for the 
bad condition of the road from Spaulding's Mills to Paris line. The taxes 
of Ebenezer Carsley, Stephen Lander, Daniel Packard, Jonathan Roberts 
and a part of Caleb Cushman's were "voted oflf." Israel Smith, Israel 
Smith, Jr., Joshua Davis, Josiah Keen and James Hussey were allowed 
"to form a School District by themselves." A school district was formed 
from all that part of the South Hill district south of a line running from 
David Record, Jr.'s, and Nathaniel Gammon, Jr.'s, to Ebenezer Irish's. 
Daniel Merrill was chosen agent for the new district. John Loring, Abi- 
jah Buck, Capt. Josiah Parris, Larnard Swallow and William Bridgham 
were chosen as a committee "to examine the tax act to see whether the 
minors tliat have been taxed in this town who belong to other towns 
shall be holden to pay their taxes in this town." The committee reported 
that in their opinion tliey were holden to pay their taxes "as much as 
though the}- were of lawful age." The assessors were instructed to go 
through the tow-n and take a new valuation. Enoch Hall was chosen rep- 
resentative to the General Court "by a majority of 40 votes." — On the 
4th daj' of February of this year, at the age of 65, died Dominicus Record, 
the owner of the village mills and one of the principal citizens of the 
village and town. He had moved his family hither from Easton, Mass., in 
1783, acquired an interest in the mills and water power privileges witli Ed- 
mund Chandler and at once took a leading position m the affairs of the 
little place and the town. From the incorporation of the town till liis 
death, he had held some town office. It is noteworthy that the place was 
first called "Record's Mills," afterwards "Buckfield Mills," and finally, 
"Buckfield Village." Dominicus Record was the first man to be commis- 
sioned as a Justice of the Peace. His homestead, at his death, was ap- 
praised at $6,000, and other real estate at $966. Personal property at 
$1,306.66. 

1811. 
"John Loring, Esq., Maj. Henry Farwcll and Dr. William Bridgham" 
were elected school committee. The following were the school agents : 
Richard Hathaway, John Loring, Thomas Long, Jesse Turner, Jr., Bar- 
nabas Perry, Charles Young, Jabez Taylor, David Br\ant, James Water- 
man, Daniel Faunce, David Merrill and Daniel Hutchinson. The taxes of 
Samuel Jenkins for 1810; Daniel Packard's, $8.54; Joseph Clifford's, 
$3.20; Israel Doblc's, $2.66; Samuel Frink's, $4.43; John Hussey's, $3.70; 
Solomon Jordan, Jr.'s, $0.35; Philemon Parsons, Jr.'s, $3.29; Jonathan 
Rollins', $2.62; Simeon Record's, $1.30; Aaron Richardson's, $0.36; Sam- 
uel D. P. Weeks', $1.30; and Benj. Young's, $1.30, were "voted off." The 
town road "beginning two rods from the Westerly end of Jacob Whit- 
man's house and running 79 rods to Hebron to connect with road laid 



124 HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 

out b}- the Selectmen of Hebron," was accepted. Also "that Caleb Young 
and Silvanus Irish have the privilege to inclose the road as far as their 
land reaches, till such time as the town shall want it for a road again." 
Daniel Hutchinson was chosen representative to the General Court. The 
vote stood as follows: Daniel Hutchinson 51, Enoch Hall 14, Thomas 
Long 2, John Loring i. — On the 14th of Oct., Benjamin Spaulding, one 
of the three principal men of the early settlers, passed away in his 73d 
year. His wife survived him about eight years. He was the first wlr'te 
man to fell trees for a permanent settlement in the town and in the limits 
of what was afterwards the village. His hunting and trapping trail later 
became a forest thoroughfare for the early settlers in West Butterfield 
(Sumner). It ran across what was in later years the Dr. Wm. Bridgham 
estate to and over Sumner Hill. He appears to have acquired the largest 
possessions of any one of the three chief men who managed the affairs 
of the proprietary. His will was probated in Feb. 1812. Benjamin 
Spaulding, Jr., administered on the estate, John Loring, Abijah Buck and 
Larnard Swallow appraised the estate. His property had been pretty 
much disposed of prior to his death. What remained was valued at about 
$2,000. 

1812. 
Benjamin Spaulding, Jr., was unanimously elected representative to 
the General Court, 102 votes being cast. — The war on crows broke out 
again and a shilling a head was allowed on all killed in the limits of the 
town before July ist. "Deacon" William Berry and "Elder" Daniel 
Hutchinson were added to the committee on the public lands of the town. 
It was "Voted that there be no ardent spirit made use of at the town's 
expense." Also "that there be no more Labor laid out on the road that 
leads from James Lewis' land to Paris Line until it shall be of Public 
use." At the presidential election, 95 votes were cast for the "Republi- 
can Ticket" and 32 against it. — At a town meeting in Nov., it was decided 
"to call on the Proprietors of the town in a legal manner to make Restitu- 
tion to the town for not locating Ministerial and School lands in said 
town agreeably to the grant of the State and tl-e State's Committees' 
deed to the Proprietors." Henry Farwell, Esq., Deacon William Berry 
and Air. John Swett were chosen as a committee for the purpose. They 
were instructed to institute legal proceedings in the matter. — A war hav- 
ing broken out with England over the impressment of American seamen, 
one of the articles in the warrant for a town meeting to be held "at the 
School House near George Bridgham's" in Xov. was "to see what com- 
pensation the town will make the drafted militia of said town, if they 
should be called into active service." Lender this article, a vote was 
passed that, "with what the Government shall allow them, their pay shall 
be made up to ten dollars per month." The petition of certain parties to 
be set off to Paris, was opposed and nothing came of it." 

1813. 
The annual town meeting was called at "the Meeting House in said 
Buckfield" on Monday, March 15th, at nine of the clock in the morning. 



HISTORY OF RUCKFIELD 125 

John Swett was chosen moderator, after which it was "voted to adjourn 
the meeting to the school house near Barnabas Perry's to meet in fifteen 
minutes." Enoch Hall, after having been chosen 3d selectman, was ex- 
cused by a vote passed. Laniard Swallow was elected to fill the vacancy 
caused by the retirement of Enoch Hall. Mr. Swallow was much in town 
office. Apparently an able man, he seems to have been a very good poli- 
tician. Benj. Spaulding was re-elected representative to the General 
Court. — The town lines between Turner and Buckfield and Sumner and 
Buckfield were perambulated "according to the law of this Commop- 
wealth" by the selectmen of these towns. 

1814. 

Increase Spaulding was elected town clerk. Increase Spaulding, Na- 
thaniel Harlow and Timothy Hutchinson, "Committee to inspect Schools." 
— Albion K. Parris for Senator had 136 votes; Daniel Stowell, 31. — It 
was voted to remonstrate against making Fryeburg a half-shire town.— 
The "expense acct." this year was $71.61. — Benj. Spaulding was again 
unanimously elected representative. — Voted "to blend" the 2d and loth 
school districts to be known as the 2d school district. — The town lines 
between Buckfield and Hartford and Buckfield and Paris were perambu- 
lated b\' the selectmen of these three towns. — The election for a Repre- 
sentative to Congress resulted as follows: Albion K. Parris had 113 votes, 
Samuel A. Bradley had 30 votes. 

1815. 

The people of Buckfield were very patriotic. Capt. David Bry- 
ant's company, the roll of which is given elsewliere, saw service in the 
vicinity of Lake Champlain, in 1813, where it took part in the contest of 
"Shadagee Woods." — William Berry, who had served much as one of the 
selectmen and had been elected this year, was excused from serving longer 
and Daniel Chase was elected in his place. — Dr. William Bridgham, Aaron 
Parsons, John Loring, Nathaniel Harlow and Timothy Hutchinson were 
chosen school committee. — A committee, consisting of Henry Farwell, 
John Loring and Laniard Swallow, was selected to petition the General 
Court to make valid the proceedings of the town. This action became 
necessary on account of informality in calling meetings and posting 
notices. — It was voted that the expense for provisions for the soldiers, 
while going to Portland, be paid by the town. — The federal ticket for 
governor this year commanded only 2;i votes, while the republican ticket 
had 141. This shows the relative standing of the parties in town at that 
time. — Benj. Spaulding was again re-elected representative to the General 
Court. — It was "voted that Mr. John Swett be invested with sufiicient 
power to get all necessary information respecting the public lands, then 
to lay it before the town for consideration." $12.08 taxes against 
Ebenezer Young, Israel Smith, Thos. Joscelyn and Thos. Joscelyn, Jr., 
were "voted off." 



126 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

1816. 
The town remonstrated against the laying out of the county road from 
Fryeburg to the Androscoggin River. This was on account of the road 
bills, which for several years had been very heavy, and the people doubt- 
less felt that it would add to their burdens. — Ezra Stephens was chosen 
one of the assessors, the first time his name appears on the clerk's records. 
Timothy Hutchinson, Henr\- Farwell, Aaron Parsons, Increase Spaulding, 
Nathaniel Harlow and Samuel F. Brown were elected school committee. — 
The sum raised for highways was $1500. The town expense acct. this 
year was $75.21, the collectors being over half of it. — Benj. Spauldmg, 
Enoch Hall and David Bryant were chosen "to ascertain as near as they 
can what it would cost to build a Poor House, and, also, to see what a 
house could be hired for." — It was "Voted that what money the Select- 
men received from Government, more than what was expended for Bag- 
gage in the late call of the Militia to Portland, be eciually divided among 
the soldiers who went from this town to Portland." — Benj. Spaulding 
was again unanimoush- chosen representative to the General Court. — A 
sexton was chosen for each burying ground in town. The following 
four were selected : Thos. R. Waterman, Thomas Long, Tobias Ricker 
and Samuel Tucker. — The town raised $20 to pay the Solicitor General 
for his opinion respecting the public lands. — A bridge across .the East 
Branch of the Twenty-Mile River having been burned, measures were 
taken to rebuild it. The vote for Representative to Congress stood as 
follows : Albion K. Parris 70, Samuel A. Bradley 13, Levi Hubbard 4. — 
This year is known as the one without a summer. Frosts occurred in 
ever}- month. The corn and potato crops were nearly a total failure. It 
was a terrible year for the people .and especially for the poor. In the 
fall, fires raged in this section. One, starting from a fire in Woodstock, 
ignited some brush, spread through the forests in a southeasterly course 
and entered Buckfield. Acres upon acres of fine timber were burned over 
and destroyed. The vegetable covering of thin soils was consumed and 
lands w'hich before were called good never .recovered from the fearful 
ravages of the flames. Long years afterwards it was referred to as the 
"Great Fire." 

1817. 
The matter of the public lands had been a source of agitation between 
the town and the proprietors. It was finally settled and, at the annual 
meeting, a vote passed "to accept of the public land as it is now laid out 
by the proprietors of said town." Benj. Spaulding, Noah Hall, Jesse 
Turner, Jr., John Brown, William Campbell and Samuel F. Brown were 
chosen to take care of the public lands and settle with further trespassers, 
— past trespasses to be taken no notice of. — Henry Farwell, Samuel F. 
Brown, Daniel Hutchinson, Increase Spaulding and John Loring were 
chosen school committee. — The roads must have been in very bad condi- 
tion for the sum of $2500 was appropriated to repair highways. "Voted 
that Enoch Hall and Larnard Swallow (assessors) go round to each 
man's house and take the valuation the ensuing May." The expense acct. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 127 

amounted to $105.05. The town officers' bills were so low that it may, in 
part, account for some of them being .elected year after year.— Moses 
Buck "for his deficiencies and failures," while collector of taxes, con- 
veyed his farm to the town ,to secure it in part against loss. His farm 
was appraised by a committee, one member of which he selected and 
the other two, the town, at $408.33.— A town meeting was called at In- 
crease Spaulding's "Inn" this year. — In perambulating the town line be- 
tween Bucktield and Turner some difficulty was experienced in finding the 
corners. The following report will he of interest: "in finding the corner 
between Turner and Bnckheld. we first looked on the line rangino- with that 
between Turner and Hebron, as found by the Selectmen of those towns, 
while running their line on the same day, and then found a corner formed 
by a beech tree, but we could find no line running in continuation of that 
towards Hartford, and between Turner and Buckfield. We then looked 
\\'est\vard, and a'oout 10 rods West of said corner first found, w^e dis- 
covered another made by a stake and stones with marks A. G., 1812, with 
some others nearly obliterated. From this, we found a line which we all 
agreed to be the true boundary line between Turner and Buckfield, and 
followed it throughout and found it to agree with the compass, and re- 
newed the marks thereon. On coming to Hartford line, we found that 
the old corner had been destroyed by fire. We, therefore, set up a stake 
and stones where we supposed the true corner to be, and where Mr. Her- 
man Wood, the owner of the land, assured us the old corner formerly 
stood, and marked the stake R. R. 1817 and spotted it on three sides." — 
Samuel F. Brown, Henry Farwell and Enoch Hall were chosen to peti- 
tion the legislature for power to sell the school lands. 

1818. 
Samuel Brown was chosen agent to defend the suit of Aloses Buck 
against the town, arising out of tlie transaction whereby he conveyed his 
farm to the town to secure it, in part, for his alleged irregularity while 
collector of taxes. — The estates of Job Prince, Andrew Warren, Xoah 
Hall, William Mayhew, Nathaniel Mayhew, Nathan Alden, John Mayhew, 
David Low and John Lewis were formed into a new school district. — The 
town expense account this year amounted to $190.62, — the largest it had 
ever been. — It was decided to build a powder house eight feet square with 
walls seven feet high, and $35 was appropriated for the purpose. — Guide 
posts were directed to be put up at the following corners of roads : Near 
Doctor William Bridgham's, Jonathan Buck's, Widow Farrar's, Widow 
Thayer's, Josiah Parris', north of bridge near Record's Mills, between 
Nathaniel Harlow's and Josiah Bailey's, near Noah Hall's, Widow Bick- 
nell's, James Perry's, Enoch Hall's, at the four corners near Capt. Daniel 
Chase's, near the Federal School House, Edmund Irish's and James 
Hussey's.— Benjamin Spaulding and John Loring were appointed Trus- 
tees of the ministerial and school fund. — Arrangements were made with 
tl\e Baptist Society for the town to move the church nearer the village, 
fix it up and hold their future meetings in it. The agreement was signed 
on the part of the society Dec. 20, 1818, by Nathaniel Chase, William 



JOS HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 

Bern-, Tobias Ricker. Joshua Wescott. Ephraim Wescott, Jacob Whit- 
man. Tob Packard and Job Prince. The committee on the part of the 
town was Enoch Hall, Samuel F. BrowTi and Dominicus Record. It was I 
voted to move the church to the most X. \V. comer of John Loring's land. ' 
William Campbell took the job of mo\"ing it at S29. Jonathan Record, ; 
Jr., and Daniel Briggs were to put in the underpinning at S6.30. — This I 
year the matter of setting off Asa Thayer and others in the northwest i 
part of the towTi. and annexing their estates to Paris, was renewed. 
Samuel F. Brown. Enoch Hall and Lamard Swallow were chosen to send 
a remonstrance to the General Court. The petitioners had leave to with- 
draw. This ended the matter for several jears. 

1810. 
The town meetings were now held at the "tow-n house" and the notices 
calling them were posted up in the store of Stephen Phelps and that of 
James Perr\-. Samuel F. Brown was chosen town clerk. — ^At a towTi 
meeting in July called for the purpose, 119 votes were cast "to form 
Maine into an Independent State" and 11 against the proposition. — Enoch 
Hall was chosen as a delegate "to attend the convention at Portland, to 
form a State Constitution." Lamard Swallow, Daniel Chase and Benj. 
Spaulding were selected "to ad^-ise with said Delegate as to the duties 
Oi said office." — On the question of ratif>"ing the constitution for the 
new State of Maine, which was submitted to the people in December, 
146 votes were cast in favor of the proposition and 3 opposed. 

1S20. 
Stephen Phelps was elected towTi clerk.^John Loring, Nathaniel Har- 
low and Aaron Parsons were chosen school committee. — Xathaniel Chase, 
Lamard Swallow and Stephen Phelps were selected "to petition the Legis- 
lature of Maine to abolish the Circuit Court of Common Pleas and to 
establish another mode whereby Justice may be obtained more readily 
and with less expense." — ^At the gubernatorial election. 137 ballots were 
cast and all were for \\'illiam King.^For representative to the legisla- 
ture: Enoch Hall had 12S, Benjamin Spaulding had 6. Lamard Sw-allow 
had 5. — It was voted "that the Surveyors of highways shall not be allowed 
to receive ardent spirits, or other drink, towards any person's tax in- 
stead of labor." — But one party ticket was voted for at the presidential 
and congressional elections. But slight interest appears to have been 
taken in the matter. It was the period of the "Era of Good Feeling." 
Thirt%--nine votes were cast for Enoch Lincoln for Member of Congress 
and the same number was given for the Monroe electors. 

1S.21. 
A movement was started in Januar\- of this year to change the name 
of the town and a tovm meeting was held to see if the town would peti- 
tion the Legislature to change it "to that of Somerville, or any other 
name they may choose." At this meeting, it was subsequently decided 
not to alter the name of the town. — At the annual meeting in March, the 



HISTORY OF BLCKFIELD 129 

matter came again before the town and a vote passed that the name of 
the town be altered to that of "Milton." Nothing came of this vote and 
the effort to change the name of the town died here. What the cause 
which started this movement was, it is now impossible to determine. — 
The collector of taxes was directed "to take notes on demand of such 
persons as have no more stock than one cow," if not able to pay their 
taxes. — Levi Rogers was licensed as an "Innholder" and John Loring, 
Enoch Crocker, Nathaniel Harlow and Stephen Phelps, as "Retailers." — 
The vote for governor this year was as follows : Hon. Albion K. Parris, 
Rep., 130; Hon. Ezekiel Whitman, Fed., 21. Benj. Spaulding for repre- 
sentative to the legislature had 62, Larnard Swallow had 13 and Enoch 
Hall 19 votes. — Among the deaths this year was that of Elder William 
Irish. He was born in Gorham in 1741. Having seen considerable ser- 
vice in the Continental Army during the Revolution, he was accustomed 
to hardships and privations which fitted him for a pioneer life. His 
great service to the settlers was in becoming a lay preacher of the Gospel. 
In spiritual, moral and educational matters, he was the leader of the 
people of his section of the township for many years, and was finally 
succeeded by Elder Nathaniel Chase. 

1822. 
William Pidgin, Winslow Hall and Zadoc Long were elected school 
committee. — Zadoc Long was chosen town clerk. — The assessors were 
advised to require of everj^ inhabitant whom they might think liable to 
be assessed for money at interest, "to give in the amount imder oath." — 
The following persons w'ere licensed "to be sellers of Wine, Beer, Ale, 
Cider, Brand}- and Rum, and other strong liquors for one year :" John 
Loring, Enoch Crocker, Mark Lowell, Nathaniel Harlow and Long & 
Atwood. These were the principal traders in town at this time. — The 
vote for representative to the legislature this year was as follows : Lar- 
nard Swallow 64, Eliphalet Packard 13, Benj. Spaulding 7, and Enoch 
Hall 8. — For several years, the town had been troubled with "uncurrent" 
money. Twenty dollars of such currency having found its way into the 
town treasurer's hands, a vote passed to have it sent to Boston to be dis- 
posed of to the best advantage. 

1823. 
"Ebenezer and John Shaw in Co." were licensed as Innholders. — For 
representative "to represent the Oxford District in the Congress of the 
United States, Enoch Lincoln of Paris had all the votes cast, 86." — It 
was "voted that the following persons, who have given their notes in pay- 
ment for taxes, have the privilege of working them out on the highways 
at six pence an hour:" James Monk, Ebenezer Austin, Levi Bryant, 
George Roberts, John Chaftin, Moses Buck, Philemon Parsons. John Drake, 
John Irish and Abner Rounds. — "After legal notice, John Loring, Nathan- 
iel Harlow, Nathan Atwood, Enoch Crocker and Long and Loring in Co." 
were licensed to sell strong liquors. — There was a sharp contest this year 
over representative to the legislature. It resulted as follows: Benj. 
Spaulding 36, Larnard Swallow 21, Enoch Hall 7. 



130 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

iS_'4. 
Henry Hutchinson was chosen collector of taxes this year. — Enoch 
Hall, Samuel F. Brown and Nathaniel Harlow were chosen a committee 
"to exmaine the counterfeit money, which is in the hands of the town 
officers, and report what they think is proper for the town to do with 
the same." — Voted "that it is the sense of the town that no Surveyor will 
so far deviate from his dut.\- as to appropriate the money in liis hills to 
the purchase of ardent spirits." — The town expense account this year 
amounted to $266.88. — The road "beginning in the center of the road near 
Long and Loring's Store," thence running by William Cole's "till it meets 
the road coming from John Alathews", " was accepted. Also, the road 
leading from Toliias Ricker's by James Hussey's to Hartford and the 
the road from Xoah Hall's to land of James Lewis, were accepted.— 
Twenty cents for each militiaman was voted in lieu of rations. The 
sum of $73 was appropriated for powder and balls, and $25 "to replenish 
the town magazine with ammunition." — \'oted to allow Sylvanus Irish 
$53.90 for the value of a horse which had been injured or killed by falling 
from a bridge. Enoch Hall had been selected to examine into the mat- 
ter and effect a settlement if possible. — At a meeting of the trustees of 
the school and ministerial fund, Benj. Spaulding was chosen president, 
Eliphalet Packard, clerk, and Laniard Swallow, treasurer. — The following 
new names appear among those licensed to sell ardent spirits : Allen 
Pompilly and Isaac Parsons. — The republicans had it all their own way 
at the presidential election. The vote was light and no opposition ballots 
were cast. Benj. Cb.andler for elector had 34 votes. He was a John 
Quincy Adams man. — At the election of a representative to the legisla- 
ture, there was more interest. Benj. Spaulding was again elected. The 
vote stood thus: Benj. Spaulding had 37 votes. Laniard Swallow had 8 
votes, Flnocli Hall had 10 votes, Aaron Parsons had 7 votes, Daniel 
Chase had i vote. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD lyl 

CHArTER X\1IJ. 

CtU-RCII UlSTOKV. 

When the sale of the township was made to Abijah Buck and 
his associates as will be seen elsewhere in these pag-es, two hun- 
dred acres of land were reserved for the first settled minister, an 
equal number for the use of the ministry, the same number of 
acres for the future disposition of the state and two hundred and 
eighty acres for schools. These were denominated ])ublic lands 
r.nd were allotted by the proprietors many years after the first 
settlements were made and the most desirable localities had been 
selected and occupied. There was no provision in llie deed to the 
purchasers how these lots should be selected or located except that 
the two hundred acres reserved for the future disposition of the 
Commonwealth should be near the center of the township. 
When the town had become so well settled as to be interested in 
having a resident minister and an established school system, con- 
troversies arose over the selection and location of these lands and 
a petition was made to the General Court of Massachusetts in 
i8i4 by Henry Farw^ell, Larnard Swallow and William Berry 
representing these interests that fraud had been used in allotting 
the lands and that they had been located in swamps and on moun- 
tains wdiere the land was not, or ever would be of any value and 
that the purpose of the Legislature in reserving these lands had 
been defeated and asking that an act be passed providing a rem- 
edy or some relief. The General Court sustained the proprietors 
and the petitioners were given leave to withdraw. 

Three years after a satisfactory settlement was made be- 
tween the town and the proprietors. The lands were sold and 
placed in separate funds. The proceeds of the sale of the min- 
isterial lands were never used for ministerial purposes, through 
conflict of denominational interests and in 1830 authority w^as ob- 
tained from the Legislature of Maine to transfer the investment 
to the school fund. This was done. Thus, after many years of 
controversy, tlie money derived from the sale of these lots was 
merged in a perpetual school fund with the municipal officers as 
trustees. It amounts at the present time to a little over two 
thousand dollars, the interest of which is annually devoted to the 
support of the public schools. 



132 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

EARLY PREACHING AND MISSIONARIES. 

The first preaching and rehgious ministrations to the people 
in Buckfield were from the missionaries who were accustomed 
to visit the early settlements calling upon families, distributing 
books, printed discourses and tracts and holding services in fann 
houses and barns. They were earnest, self-denying men. some of 
whom were liberally educated, others possessing few acquire- 
ments beyond their natural gifts for religious work, but all were 
imbued with a martyr-like zeal in extending spiritual instructions 
to their fellow men. 

Elder James Potter, pastor of the "First Bowdoin Church' 
Society of the Baptist denomination and of strong Calvinistic 
doctrines which in those days rigidly prevailed, appears to have 
been the first to visit Buckfield on a missionary tour. This was 
in 1789. He left a record of that visit in which he stated that he 
found here a number of loving brethren and had fellowship with 
them. Several other missionaries came to Buckfield — the most 
prominent being Elder Elisha Snow of Thomaston and Rev. Paul 
Coffin of Buxton. The latter was a liberal-minded, cultivated man, 
a graduate of Plan^ard College and a scholar of repute. He was 
born in Newbury, Alass., in 1737 and though reared in one of the 
most cultivated communities of Xew England he conceived it his 
duty to settle among a people living in a comparative wilderness 
and he moved to the township, afterwards incorporated as Buxton 
in the District of Maine, and here began a pastorate which con- 
tinued over sixty years. He died there in 1821, beloved and 
revered by all. During his long pastorate he made many ex- 
tended missionar}' tours into this section. He kept a journal 
which was printed. The references to his experiences in Buck- 
field are very interesting. We quote : "1796, June 28, Buckfield, 
formerly Bucktown. It lies X. of Hebron and above which is 
Butterfield, etc. Nearly E. is Turner. Preached froin Acts 17: 
30, 31. Put up with ]\Ir. George (probably John) Buck, originally 
from Newbury, who with nothing but two hands has advanced 
to 500 acres of good land. He has 8 pails of milk from ten 
cows." — "1798, Aug. 23, left Hebron and rode to Buckfield, 
guided by a lad, Josiah Pratt of Hebron to whom I gave a testa- 
ment. Gave Mr. Buck Belknap's Sermon and Hemmingway's 
Sermon to Benjamin Spaulding and a primer to the children of 
Isaac Foster." "Aug. 24. rode to BuckfieKl Mills. There are 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD I33 

two brothers by the name of Aii(h-e\vs — monev jT^etters in trade 
here with a large house and a shop and a .Mr. Record with a large 
house begun. From this center is a road west to Paris, north to 
Butterfield and N.E. to Liverniore. Preached from 2d Timothy 
3: 14. 15. All preaching is thought by many here to be needles? 
and the "Age of Reason' is too sweet to the people. Oh! the 
bad effects of lay preachers of several sorts and of deistical 
writers when these follow as here great ignorance and neglect 
of the means of grace. How sad is the case of the people in such 
hands. The low state of religion in this place and the corruption 
of principle too fully prove such a sad case. Aug. 26, Sabbath. 
Buckfield. It being rainy I preached to about six score people 
from Alark 16: 15, 16 and Alatt. 5: 2;^, 24. 1 lost about half my 
hearers I believe by the rain. What I had gave attention." 
"1800, Sept. 2, Hebron. Rode to Buckfield with Mr. Benjamin 
Spaulding and John Clay. Clay is the son of Richard, late of 
Buxton, whose wife was Ruth Whiton. Qay has three married 
sisters in Buckfield where is his mother also. Sept. 3, Buckfield. 
]\lr. Spaulding is the first settler here of about 20 years' standing. 
He lives about ten miles from 'Mv. Turner's in Hebron. He 
owns 800 acres and is from small beginnings advanced to wealth. 
He has four barns and several convenient out houses — ^makes 
about five tons of potash yearly. His situation is rich and pleas- 
ant. He lives in plenty and entertains a friend well. The town 
has 150 or 160 families, some good houses, no settled minister; all 
are divided. He says near 20 ministers from Gorham have en- 
tered among them to spoil their union and prevent the settlement 
of a minister. Oh ! Gorham what hast thou done ? Spaulding 
has 40 black cattle with sheep and horses. He is situated on the 
road to Paris and has a grist and saw mill." 

''Sept. 4. Thursday, Buckfield. Preaclied from Acts 24: 25. 
Put up with Abijah Buck. He and his brother, Nathaniel, and 
Spaulding are beautifully situated on the north side of excellent 
intervale land annually overflowed. It bears usually one and one- 
fourth tons of hay per acre. P.uck has a sweet garden running 
from his door to the stream. Mve houses for martins on poles 
before his door are ornamental. These birds went oft' three 
weeks ago. Sept. 5, at Buck's. This morning after a rain is 
pleasant. All things green and clover fit for mowing. \ isited 
three families yesterday. ^Irs. Tyler, Buck's mother-in-law, is 



134 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

90 years old. She was born at Haverhill and remembers Hannah 
Dustin who killed seven Indians. Her husband with one hand 
only has built more than 200 mills. \'isited Alessrs. Ricker, War- 
ren, Hussey, John Cole and John Elwell. Put up again with 
Abijah Buck. Cold night, but no frost. New corn ground here 
the first instant. Sept. 6, visited Mr. Harlow, long sick and 
emaciated. He and his wdfe appearing mild and Christianlike. 
Gave a Psalter to their little sweet daughter, Sukey. Mrs. Buck 
asked me this good question: Can a man be a Christian before 
he is clever? Preached from James 3: 7. Then rode to Sumnei 
over a good road and put up with Joshua Richardson, son of the 
Deacon — a pleasant family it was." 



FIRST BAPTIST .SOCIETY. 

The result of the work of the missionaries and itinerant 
preachers was a movement to form a Baptist society and it was 
found on looking over the ground that it was advisable to locate 
it in Turner, where the people of the east and southeastern por- 
tions of Buckfield in which sections the tenets of that faith had 
taken root, could be quite well accommodated. Accordingly in 
1 79 1, two years before the incorporation of the town, a petition 
to incorporate such a society was presented to the General Court 
of Massachusetts. Joseph Roberts, Jr., Avas the first name on the 
petition. Of the 61 other names on it, 34 werej^;q;n this town- 
ship. Their names were as follows : William Irish, William 
Berry, Jonathan Philbrick, Joshua Wescott, William Doble, 
Simon Record, Edmund Irish, John Buck, William Cilley, Jona- 
than Roberts, Jotham Shaw, James Jordan. Jeremiah Hodgdon, 
James Hodgdon, Thomas Lowell, John Swett, David \\'arren, 
Joseph Roberts, John Irish, Jr., Enoch Hall, Benj. Cilley, ^^'illiam 
Lowell, Eleazer Chase, Caleb Young, Amos Brown. Richard 
Taylor, Joseph Chase, John Irish, Joshua Davis, Thomas Irish, 
Stephen Lovxell, Lemuel Crooker, Jonathan Record and Nathaniel 
Smith. In the latter part of the next year the petition was 
granted and the society incorporated, it never, however, ac- 
quired much success or stability and its influence in the com- 
munitv was less than expected. It was unable to sustain regular 
preaching and its promoters scon drifted away to other asso- 
ciations. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 135 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BL'CKFIEI.D. 

The missionary labors of Elders Potter and Snow had re- 
sulted in the conversion of several persons in the village and 
vicinity and about the same time that the movement was started 
to incorporate the Turner and Bucktown society, an association 
was formed of seventeen persons who united with the church and 
they entered upon the work of the new society with an energy 
that promised fruitful results but their isolated situation ami 
meagre privileges for public worship were unfavorable to rapid 
advancement. For the first ten years of its cxisten.ce (till 1801 ), 
the society was without a ]iastor and dependent for preaching on 
itinerant ministers with slig-ht aid from the Baptist Bowdoinham 
Association which extended its fostering care over the church. 
X'arious preachers from it volunteered occasional visits here, hold- 
ing services and making a few converts, but with its small mem- 
bership and destitution of a settled pastor, the society after a few 
years of comparative prosperity began to decline in numbers and 
influence until its perpetuity became a question of serious con- 
sideration. But at length through the darkness of depression 
appeared the dawning of brighter days, which brought rejoicing 
to the faithful supporters of the church. 

Relative to the church here at this period we quote from Mil- 
lett's History of the Baptists in Maine: "In 1801 Rev. Xathaniel 
Lhase became its pastor. With a warm, vigorous and zealous 
piety, he strove untiringly to strengthen the things that remained. 
Xor did he toil in vain. The work of the Lord prospered in his 
hands and pleasing additions were soon made to the church which 
now appeared like one coming up from the wilderness." 

Elder Xathaniel Chase was a man uf great activity and 
energy. Through his instrumentality, a meeting-house was built, 
the first church edifice in town, which has always been known as 
IClder Chase's Church. It stood south from tlie village near the 
residence of the late Sylvester ^^lurdock. It fell into disuse in 
after years and was moved to the village and occupied as a town 
li;irse until a recent ])erio(l. 

Elder Chase was pastor of this ch.irch .society for fifteen 
vcars. after which he continued his church relations, occasionall\- 
])reaching here for many years and re])re<enting the society at 
the associatirm meetings and conventions nearly every year. He 
had ardent supporters and co-workers in Deacons Job Prince, 



136 HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 

Stephen Benson, Job Packard and William Berry. After his 
pastorate, no regular preaching was sustained but meetings with 
various preachers were held and the Sabbath School with Bible 
classes were continued. 

The decline of the church began in 1804 after which it sus- 
tained an annual net loss. In 1828 it reported a membership of 
thirty-two, but its report of 1839 states: "This church has 
scarcely a name to live." In 1841 only twelve members remained 
and the association dropped it from its rolls with a reconmienda- 
tion for the members to unite with other churches. Elder Chase 
united with the church in Hebron and the mission of the First 
Church was ended but during its existence it exercised a broad 
and healthy influence in the community and town and left a last- 
ing impression for good. 



REV. NATHANIEL CHASE. 

Nathaniel Chase, the central figure of the first church in Buck- 
field, was a man of remarkable personality. Reared under the 
hardships of pioneer life, in youth a Revolutionary soldier, in 
1781, at the age of twenty years he came to the forest wilds of 
Buckfield, destitute in worldly goods, but rich in courage, untir- 
ing perseverance and vigorous manhood. An account of his in- 
coming is given in sketches of early settlers. He cleared ten 
acres of land on which he built a log cabin, to which he brought 
his father and mother from Windham in 1782, giving them the 
land and starting anew in the forest for himself. Legislative 
provisions enabled him to secure one hundred acres for 
himself to which he subse(iuently added more than two 
hundred acres by purchase. He was a diligent worker, and as 
the years went by his farm broadened in improved acreage, 
wrested from the forests till his landed possessions were among 
the largest and most valuable in the settlement and he was ac- 
counted a wealthy man as measured by the standard of those 
days. Here he successively 'built three houses^ first, a log cabin ; 
second, a small frame house, which in time was succeeded by the 
large square house still standing on the Chase farm in which he 
lived till his death in 1853, when he was almost ninety-two years 
of age. He was three times married and he reared a large family 
of sons and daughters. 



HISTORY OF lU'CKFlELD 137 

Under rigid religious intlncnces of liis youthful days he was 
converted and became possessed with a desire to preach the gospel. 
The associations of his youth afforded few educational oppor- 
tunities. He never attended school a day in his life, but through 
aptitude and perseverance he gathered knowledge from every- 
flay life and such few books as were attainable until he became 
well informed. He was ordained to the ministry in the Uaptist 
churcli in 1800 and he preached in Buckfield continuously fifteen 
years and occasionally during the remainder of his active life. 
He also preached many }ears in J larrison, Woodstock, Liver- 
more, Paris and other places, largely without compensation, re- 
viv'.ng and building up churches. He alwa}'s preached without 
notes, his liible and hymn i)ook being his only pulpit aids, ])ut his 
sermons were characterized with earnestness, terseness and vigor- 
ous expression which always impressed his hearers. He was a 
hard working man on his farm and his fields and the woods were 
his places of study and while toiling through the week his mind 
was engaged in preparing his sermons for the following Sabbath. 
It is amusingly related of him that he would frequently complete 
the hoeing of a row of corn and then hoe back on the same row, 
so absorbed was his mind with thouglTts of some future discourse. 
He was a man of firm will, blunt speech, thoroughly honest and 
zealous in all his undertakings, and under his religious austerity 
were a kindly heart and a lurking sense of humor. Always an in- 
dustrious man, he had no sympathy for idlers. His house was a 
rendezvous for all visiting preachers of his faith, but if one of 
them showed a disposition to unreasonably loiter on his hospital- 
ity he was plainly told that "he should not eat the bread of idle- 
ness." Several of the Elder's sayings have passed into local 
proverbs, as: "The longer 1 live the more convinced 1 am that 
it takes a pretty good man to make a good Christian," and "H 
a man will steal sheep before he is converted he is quite likely to 
afterwards." Many anecdotes concerning him are also pre- 
served: He had a large family of boys who kept up the i^ro- 
verbial reputation of mini.ster's sons for mischievous pranks, in 
which a nephew nametl Eleazer, took a conspicuous ])art. It 
was the custom of the hllder to select his hyir.ns for the Sa])bath 
and then carefully wrap his hymn book in his handkerchief and 
place it in the pocket of his Sunday coat, ready for use. ( )n one 
Ciccasion this mischievous loving nephew surrej^itiously w th- 



138 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

drew the book and substituted a pack of cards. \\'hen Sunday 
came the Ekler opened the meeting, takhig: out the supposed 
hymn-book, and, as he unfokled the handkerchief, a shower of 
cards fell in all directions from the high pulpit to the consterna- 
tion of preacher and congregation. Recovering from his amaze- 
ment, the Elder gave a tremendous hem and exclaimed: "That's 
some of Lezer's work." Uncle Xat, as he was familiarly called, 
was an extensive and prudent farmer and raised large crops of 
corn, always having a yearly surplus to lend or sell to his neigh- 
bors. One cold winter night he had occasion to be out late and 
on returning, he heard a noise in his corn house as of some one 
shelling corn. He went in and found a ix)or man there, wdio had 
already shelled about a bushel which he intended to steal. Uncle 
Nat was greatly displeased and bluntly exclaimed: "You pesti- 
lent fellow ! What in the name of the world are you doing here 
at this tinie of night — stealing are youj^ Don't you know any 
better? Take your bag and go home. Stoj:)- -take half the corn. 
I suppose you are needy and 1 am willing to pay you for shell- 
ing; but you are a good-for-nothing fellow, and don't let me ever 
catch you stealing again." 

At another time, when breadstuff was scarce and could only 
be obtained for cash at high prices, a man came to Uncle Xat to 
buy corn. 

"How much do you want to buy?" the Elder asked. 

"Six bushels," replied the man. 

"Have you the money to pay for it?" 

"T have cash in my pocket." 

"\\ ell, then, I can't let you have any. If you have money in 
your pocket you can bay corn of those who won't sell for any- 
thing else. Some of my neighbors, with large families are very 
poor and can't get monev and I must keep all the corn I can 
spare to leuvl to them till they can raise some or can pay me in 
some other way." 

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH. 

In the minutes of the Oxford Baptist Association, held in 
Sumner in 1850, appears the following historical sketch: 

THE BAPTIST CHURCH IX WEST B-UCKFJELD. 

The \\'est part of EUickfield was settled in 1790. It pleased 
God to send some praying souls to settle in the place, who estab 
lished prayer meetings and continued them till 1802, when the 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



139 



Lord appeared in answer to prayer, antl poured out His Spirit, 
and sinners were converted to God. In July, 1802, He moved 
upon the minds of His people to be organized in church fellow- 
ship, to be called The Second Baptist Church in Buckfield. The 
number organized was thirteen — seven males and six females. 
After the church was embodied they made choice of Bro. Job 
Prince to till the ot^ce of deacon, and Bro. John Simmons, as 




Baptist Parsonage, West Buckfield 



clerk. Twenty-five were added to this little band the same year. 
In November, 1803, one of their number, Brother George Ricker, 
was ordained, and became their pastor. The church continued 
in a flourishing state till 1809 or 1810. About this time Elder 
Ricker was dismis.sed, and removed to Alinot. This left us des- 
titute of preaching, which caused trials in the church, and many 
of the members were dismissed to the First Church in Buckfield 
and Hebron. P.ut the church still held together, anfl in a good 
degree ke])t up the worship of God with but very little preaching 
till 181 5, when God appeared in mercy pouring out his Spirit, 
and sinners were converted. Thirty-four were added to the 
church. .\ good interest continued, l)y the help of ministering 
brethren, and the gifts in the church, lill 1825, when Bro. 
Ephraim Harlow was called to ordination, and in July he was set 
apart to the Gospel ministry. The church had to pass through 
many trials, until 1830, when God, in his mercy, appeared to build 
uj) Zion, and fifteen were added. Nothing of importance oc- 



140 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

curred in the church till 1839. This was a year of great interest. 
In this year, twenty-three were added, and a good degree of in- 
terest continued until i8-i2. when we lost our house in which we 
met for worship, by fire. \\'e were then dependent on other dis- 
tricts for a house to meet in, which caused some difficulty. The 
enemy crept in, and we were under the necessity of excluding 
some. Others were dismissed to churches in diliferent places, 
while others have died and gone to receive their reward, until our 
number is reduced at present to twenty-six. We are few in 
number, but are in peace among ourselves. 

The deacons who have served in this church, are Job Prince 
and Ichabod Waterman, from its organization to 181 1; Daniel 
Faunce has served from 181 1 to the present time; David Farrar, 
from 1819 to 1842; Warren Besse, from 1824 to 1847; David 
Farrar, Jr., from 1841 to 1847. The clerks who have served the 
church are John Simmons, Ichabod Waterman, David Farrar, 
and William Pearson. 

E. Hari.ow, Pastor, 
William Pearson, Clerk. 

West Buckfield, September, 1850. 

For nearly half a century this church exercised a strong and 
centralizing religious influence in the west part of the town. In 
its seasons of weakness and depression it was frequently the 
recipient of the ministerial services and fatherly counsel of Elder 
Chase of the First Cliurch, also of Elder Hooper of Paris. Its 
membership consisted of frugal, industrious farmers and their 
families whose interests and associations were largely confined to 
the quiet events and rigid simplicity of a rural neighborhood in 
the early days. Church conferences w^ere of frequent occur- 
lences which were recorded as occasions of prayer and "travail 
of soul," at which members unburdened their minds, relating 
their trials and crosses, reporting the short-comings of others and 
confessing their own. One member was reported for his failure 
to include his money at interest in his valuation return to the 
assessors of the town, and both informer and delinquent were 
admonished. The following entry in the church records appears 
under date of May 19, 1820: 

"Met in conference. Told our minds with great coldness, 
after which there appeared a difficulty in the minds of some that 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFfELD 141 

X. Harlow ought to be reported for driving- home from Portland 
on the Lord's day." Thus personal differences, back-biting, in- 
temperance, neglect of neighborly visits and church attendance 
and various otlier short-comings were frequently the travail of 
mind at these meetings, which were gravelv considered and 
brought under the corrective influence of the church. lUit the 
heaviest burden of this church and the greatest disturber of its 
peace was its intolerance of Free Alasonry, the outgrowth of the 
historic Morgan crusade, which took deep root in this neighljor- 
Iiood in 1828, when Nathaniel Harlow was clerk of the church 
and his brother, Ephraim, its pastor. The latter in his historical 
sketch spoke of tlie many trials of the church previous to 1830, 
but he omitted to associate them with their origin which was in 
anti-]\Iasonry. He also failed to include in his list of clerks the 
name of his brother, Xathaniel, who, under date of 1828, made 
the following record : "About this time a great excitement arose 
in the church about ^Masonry, and Xathaniel Harlow being one, 
was visited by Deacon Farrow, who was sent to visit me, and a 
request was made by the church for me, in order to have standing 
in the church, to renounce Masonry, which thing I have not 
agreed to do not being anything immoral in said society." 

At a church meeting, Oct. 11, 1828, the following vote was 
passed : "\'oted that we will not receive a Free ]^Iason into this 
church nor hold any in fellowship who attend their meetings or in 
any way support them, they being a wicked and immoral society." 

The foregoing entry was the last one made by Xathaniel Har- 
low as clerk. He was soon superseded in office and at a church 
meeting, b^eb. 7, 1829, following grave deliberations and much 
excitement over Free Masonry, church fellowship was withdrawn 
from him. Here began the decline of the church which led to its 
final dissolution ; for its action in the case of 'Sir. Harlow was 
strongly opposed by several members, who also were later de- 
prived of church fellowship and who were subsequently received 
as members of Elder Chase's church. This action of the First 
church, in accepting dismissed members of another without let- 
ters, was contrary to church regulations and caused a breach of 
good feeling between the two churches which continued through 
much controversy and ineffectual attempts at reconcilation till 
1835 when harmony was restored through the agency of the Bap- 
tist Association. But the society never recovered its former 
strength and prosperity, but it gradually declined till like the First 
church it "fell asleep." 



142 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

BUCKFIELD VILLAGE BAPTIST CHURCir. 

This church had its birth during a period of inactivity in the 
religious affairs of the village when its citizens were devoting 
their energies to business enterprises associated with the opening 
of the railroad. It was a time of material growth and prosperity, 
with increasing population and great activity in the erection of 
new buildings and but little interest was manifested in church 
matters. Xo Sabbath meetings were held in the village by any 
denomination. The Universalists were inactive, the First Baptist 
church had passed away and the lights of the Second church at 
West Buckfield had faded to a glimmer. Nathaniel Chase and 
Ephraim Harlow, the aged pastors of these two churches, still 
lived, but had passed their years of activity. But a leaven from 
those old churches still lingered in the community from which 
a new church was to arise. 

In the year, 1850, Rev. Dr. Adam Wilson, then pastor of the 
pjaptist church in Heborn, became interested in the religious con- 
dition of the village and during the summer of the following 
year, he made arrangements for himself and .Albion K. P. Small, 
the perceptor of Hebron Academy to preach occasionally in Buck- 
held. Their efforts were productive of considerable public in- 
terest and encouraging results and on the .^rst day of September 
of that year ]\Ir. Small severed his connections with the academy 
and with his wife moved to Buckfield, hoping to be able to sustain 
preaching for one year. Xo church society existed, and no salary 
was provided. At first the attendance was small and few persons 
had confidence that meetings would be continued through the 
winter, but Afr. Small was a young man of energy and promising 
ability and under his preaching the interest of the people steadily 
increased till a congregation of respectable size was acquired and 
one hundred and forty dollars were raised for his support. The 
second year of Air. Small's labors brought seme additional sup- 
port, but it was one of many discouragements ; for, while there 
was a general desire to have his work sustained, yet none v\ere 
found prepared to unite in church fellowship. This condition 
was disheartening to the young preacher, who .sometimes felt that 
his labors were in vain, but with aid from the Alissionary Society 
and his salary as teacher of the winter terms of the village school, 
he was enabled to support himself and family. .At length, the 
prospects grew somewhat brighter; several persons manifested a 



II 




Buckfield Village Baptist Church 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 145 

desire to make a public profession of their failli and it was 
thought desirable to have an ordained minister, in accordance 
with this desire the Baptist church at Paris called a council which 
met at Buckfield, Oct. 19, 1853, at which Mr. Small was ordained 
an evangelist, Rev. L. li. Allen of Yarmouth, preaching the 
ordination sermon. The occasion \\as one of great public in- 
terest which attracted a crowded audience. 

The first candidate for baptism was Ichabod Bonney to whom 
the ordinance was administered in December. 1853, when snow 
was on the ground and the river was frozen. The event is re- 
corded as an impressive one, and the first baptism in the village. 
On that day the few persons in Buckfield, desirous of church fel- 
lowship, accepted an invitation from the Paris brethren to become 
a branch of their church. Six were received that day and during 
the following year eight more were baptized and added to that 
church. Through mutual consent the meetings had been held in 
Union Chapel, but a revival of Universalist preaching required 
use of the house one-half of the time and it w^as made apparent 
to the Baptists that a regularly constituted church and a separate 
place of worship were essential to their future prosperity. Ac- 
cordingly on the 13th day of September, 1854, those who formed 
the branch of the Paris church were publicly recognized as the 
Buckfield \'illage Baptist Church with nineteen members as 

follows : 

Albion K. P. Small, Pastor, 

Ephr.mm Ricker, Deacon, 

David Swett, Dcaccn. 
Ichabod Bonney, William Pearson, 

^largaret Ricker, Almira Swett, 

Sarah Prince, Prudence S. Record, 

Hepsibah C. Cole, Maria Lowe, 

Delphina Lowe, Lucy Atwood, 

Clarinda B. Spaulding, Susan J. Record, 

Eunice A. Atwood, Xancy Drake, 

Sylvia L Warren John G. Thayer. 

During that year two more members were acquired, but a 
great loss was sustained through the death of Deacon David W. 
Swett, who was a zealous worker and liberal supporter of the 
church. 

The church organization greatly facilitated the building of a 
meeting-house, which had already been projected with consider- 



146 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

able progress made on its foundation. The society was weak 
and small in numbers, and the enterprise vras entered upon with 
many misgivings ; but the influence of the pastor and zealous co- 
operation of his associates were rewarded with unexpected aid 
from various sources, that enabled them, daring the season of 
1855 to complete a neat and commodious church building which 
was dedicated Xov. 29, 1855. Subsequently, through the elTorts 
of Zadoc Long, a bell was added to the tower which was the first 
church bell ever rung in Buckfield. 

During Air. Small's pastorate of about seven years the church 
passed through discouraging seasons and tlie vicissitudes usual 
with a small country parish ; but it grew steadily in strength and 
influence till it reached a good degree of prosperity. Forty-five 
members were added, by letter and baptism, to the original num- 
ber but several were lost by death and dismissal. Regular serv- 
ices with Sabbath schools and prayer meetings were sustained 
and many people outside of the parish contributed liberally to the 
support of the church and its eloquent young pastor. In the 
autumn of 1858, Mr. Small severed his pastoral connections with 
the church to accept a call to a broailer field of usefulness in Ban- 
gor. The church was deeply depressed by its loss, but through 
his instrumentality it had acquired strength sufficient for self- 
reliance and permanency. After his departure the church was 
without a settled pastor until December 4, 1858, when Rev. Ed- 
ward W. Pray of Boston became its pastor, remaining until 
December, 1861. He was a scholarly man, of social disposition 
and highly esteemed in the community, but his pas^^oral usefulness 
was somewdiat impaired by the frailty of his health. 

The next preacher, with prospects of a settlement was Jose])h 
F. Elder of Portland, a graduate of Waterville College, who was 
licensed as a preacher by the Free Street church. Portland, in 
]86i. He was a young man of marked ability and great promise, 
which has since been amply fulfilled. He remained in Buckfield 
only a few months but long enough to prominently identify his 
name with its church history. He was subsequently ordained to 
the ministry in Orange, N. J., preaching there three years. He 
has since held long pastorates in Xew York City and Albany and 
is now recognized as one of the strongest ])reachers in his denom- 
ination. For several months the church was again without a 
pastor, but in September, 1862, a call to Rev. John A. Baskwell 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD I47 

was accepted. He remained only abont a year and was subse- 
quently dismissed to the church in Amherst, \. 11. 

During- the autumn of 1862 the church was called upon to part 
with five of its young members who volunteered as soldiers in 
the defence of their country. They were Capt. Charles H. 
Prince, Sylvester E. Murdock, Eliphas Ripley, Alpheus A. Ricker 
and Charles ]M. lieadle. Two of them, Eliphas Ripley and 
Charles M. Beadle were never to return. The former died of 
disease in the hospital at Washington and the latter died in Phil- 
adelphia of wounds received at Gettysburg. 

The next pastor was Rev. C. JT. Carlton, who began his labors 
here in February, 1864, which were acceptably continued nearly 
four years with harmonious relations and fair prosperity in the 
church. His wife was a fine singer and greatly aided tlie mu- 
sical interests of the village. 

Rev. Alonzo F. Benson of Sumner succeeded Mr. Carlton, re- 
maining some over two years and then resigning to accept a call 
from Weston, [Mass. He was an industrious, self-educated man, 
whose labors were successful. Xearly a year followed without a 
settled minister, when Harvey Linsley, a graduate of Crozier 
Theolog'cal Seminary was engaged, who was received into fellow- 
ship by letter from the church in Upland, Pa. He entered upon 
his pastoral duties Sept. 17, 1871 and was ordained in the follow- 
ing Xovember, with a sermon by Rev. A. K. P. Small, the first 
pastor of the church. The following year a revision of the 
church rolls was made, which showed a memliership of sixty-six. 
This pastorate covered an eventful period. 

The 27th day of October, 1872. was made memorable in the 
annals of the church and village by a my.sterious fire in the still 
hours of the night, which destroyed the Baptist church building 
and the brick schoolhouse near it with all their contents. At 
dawn, nothing but ashes and blackened ruins remained of the 
two most utilized public buildings of the village. The origin of 
the fire has never been learned but it was supposed to be of an in- 
cendiary nature. There was no insurance on the churcli anci its 
loss was a severe blow which at first seemed almost overwhelm- 
ing ; but temporary arrangements were made for religious meet- 
ings in the hall of the hotel, where the affairs of the church were 
conducted until another house of worshij:* was provided. The 
loss of the only building in which regular preaching was main- 



148 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

tained, aroused the sympathies of the people, who energetically 
united with the members of the church in the work of raising 
funds for the erection of another house. A desirable lot ot land 
was donated by Hon. Virgil D. Parris, plans for the edifice were 
prepared and the pastor spent most of the season in traveling, 
preaching and soliciting aid. He worked untiringly with great 
success, securing liberal pledges from individuals and church 
societies in various parts of the country. The largest society 
contributions were $300 from Free Street Baptist church, Port- 
land and $400 from Madison Avenue Baptist church, New York. 
Many others gave from twenty to one hundred dollars. The 
largest individual subscriptions were $300 from ex-Gov. Coburn 
and $100 each from Hon. William P. Frye of Lev.Hston and Dea. 
Cyrus Ricker of Hartford. Among other gifts were a chandelier 
from Charles E. Jose of Portland, a weather vane from Lorenzo 
Atwood of Buckfield and a pulpit Bible from ]\Irs. Persis Bartlett 
of Winchendon, ]Mass. The new house was 'built in 1873 and its 
vestry was occupied in November of that year. Its total cost 
w^as nearl}' $5000 and it was dedicated, free of debt. Jan. 13, 
1874. Rev. 3klr. Small preached the dedicatory sermon and the 
occasion was one of great interest to the people and thanksgiving 
in the church. 

Pastor Linsley soon after resigned, preaching his farewell 
sermon in September, after about three years of arduous labor, 
marked with substantial growth of the church. He was suc- 
ceeded in the spring of 1875 by Rev. R. G. Farley in a pastorate 
of two years, followed by Leonard A. Freeman, a young graduate 
from Newton, who was ordained here Oct. 21, 1878. He 
preached about two years with credit to himself and profit to the 
church and moved to Brunswick. Rev. H. B. Marshall of Fox- 
croft succeeded him in a pastorate of less than a year, after which 
the church was destitute of a regular preacher about a year, but 
regular services were sustained by supplies till Rev. James M. 
Follett was engaged, w^ho remained four years, winning the kind 
regards of all and enjoying pleasant church relations. He was 
somewhat advanced in years and resigned on account of failing" 
health. He continued to supply the pulpit several months after 
his resignation, pending the settlement of another pastor. His 
successor was Rev. John H. Barrows of Warren, whose pastorate 
began Sept. 18, 1887 and continued about sixteen months. He 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 149 

was a man of good ability and the society prospered under his 
pastoral care. Rev. S. D. Richardson of Hebron was engaged 
as a supply till another pastor could be settled. In 1890 a parish 
society, to be called the l^uckheld Uaptist .Society, was organized 
for co-operation with the church. 

Rev. Benjamin F. Lawrence of Jefferson became pastor !May 
4, 1890 and in the following June he bajKized thirteen persons, 
who with two others, admitted by letters, became members of the 
churcli. In the fall of 1892 the old reed instrument in the choir 
was replaced by a good pipe organ, which was procured l)v funds 
raised through the instrumentality of Horace A. Irish. Oscar H. 
Hersey and Charles H. Prince. 

This year marked the thirty-eightli anniversary of the church 
organization which was publicly observed Sept. 26th with a re- 
union and appropriate exercises, including addresses by Rev. C. 
A. Towne of Auburn, State Secretary Dr. Dunn, reminiscences 
by Dr. A. K. P. Small, church history by Dea. William H. At- 
wood and a roll call of the church wdiich showed a present mem- 
bership of eighty-five, the oldest of whom was Dea. David Farrar, 
aged ninety years, who was present. 

Against the request of his parishioners and the regrets of the 
villagers. Pastor Lawrence resigned his charge and preached his 
farewell sermon Oct. 2-^, 1896, closing a faithful and prosperous 
pastorate of nearly six and one-half years, the longest one in 
the history of the church excepting that of Mr. Small. He was 
a man of pleasant, social nature, a good pastor and preacher and 
universally esteemed in the community. Since the retirement of 
Air. Lawrence, the pastors have been as follows : 

Sumner Bangs of Norway, from Nov. 22, 1S96 to June i, 
i8r>'^. Ordained here in January, 1897. 

John H. Whitson of Camden from Sept. 4, 1898 to April 15, 
1900. Ordained here in June, 1899. ^^ resigned to engage in 
literary pursuits, settling in Massachusetts and has since become 
prominent as an author. 

Benjamin F. Turner of Xorridgewock, from Nov. 4, 1900 to 
Nov. I, 1903. He resigned cind settled at Rumford Falls and is 
now preaching in Brunswick. During his pastorate a heavy loss 
was sustained in the death of Dea. William H. Atwood, who died 
Dec. 12, 1900. He had been a member of the church nearly forty- 
five vears and one of its strong pillars of support. 



150 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Rev. W. D. Athearn of Lisbon Falls began labors here Nov. 
22, 1903 and is the present pastor of the church. Mr. Athearn 
has taken deep interest in the historic associations of the Baptists 
in Buckfield and has copied and compiled their complete record in 
an admirable manner. 

On the 13th of September, 1904, the church observed its semi- 
centennial, with a historic sketch, roll-call and the presence of the 
venerable Dr. Small, who fifty years before had gathered the little 
flock into its first fold. 

The clerks of the church have been Rev. A. K. P. Small, 
Laurin A. Bumpus, Sylvester E. jNIurdock, Whitney Cummings, 
E. B. Austin, Rev. L. A. Freeman, William H. Atwood and Mrs. 
Julia F. Packard. 

The deacons have been Ephraim Ricker, David W. Swett, 
Laurin A. Bumpus, Rodney Hutchinson. Whitney Cummings, 
Sylvester E. Murdock, Henry Bangs, Alfred Shaw, William H. 
Atwood, Herman Alorse, E. B. Austin, A. F. Warren and Daniel 
Murch, the last four now officiating. 

This church is the direct descendant of the First and Second 
churches, and thus to a large degree it inherits the history and 
traditions of those old organizations, the smoldering embers of 
which were gathered and quickened into organic life through the 
instrumentality of Elder Small. It has had seasons of adversity, 
and has never been financially strong but through the devoted 
labors of small numbers it has regularly maintained public wor- 
ship from the date of its organization to the present time, cen- 
tralizing the religious interests of the community. It has always 
received assistance from the Maine Baptist \Iissionary Conven- 
tion and liberal support from citizens outside of the church. It 
has a good house of worship and a comfortable parsonage and by 
the will of the late Dea. William H. Atwood it received a bequest 
of one thousand dollars. 



ALBION KEITH PARRIS SMALL, D.D. 

The history of Maine has few nobler records of effective re- 
ligious labors than is found in the life-work of Albion K. P. 
Small, and the narrative of the church history of Buckfield would 
be materially incomplete without a special sketch of this honored 
clergyman of the Baptist faith. 




Albion Keith Parris Small, D. D. 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 153 

He was born in the town of Liniington, Me., Aug. 26. 1821. 
In his infancy, death deprived him of a father's care, and he 
passed the }ears of his }outh in L'ornisli, Me., wlicre lie learned 
the trade of tanner. lUit his youthful ambitions were not content 
with the prospeots of a trade or business, and, with aspirations 
for a liberal education, he took a preparatory course of study at 
Yarmouth Academy and entered Waterville College from which 
he graduated in the class of 184Q. After his graduation he be- 
came |)rincipal of Hebron Academy two years and while there 
was married, June 26. 185 1, to Thankful L. \\\:)od])ury, daughter 
of \\'illiam A\'oodbury of Cornish. 

While busil}' engaged with the <luties of his school he was per- 
suaded, against his own judgment, by such honored churchmen 
as Dr. Adam Wilson of Hebron and Elder Davis of Paris Hill, 
to settle as a preacher in Buckheld, the former having become 
considerably intereste*.! in the place as a field for religious labor. 
Accordingly Mr. Small reluctantly resigned his position in the 
Academy, and with his wife took u]) his abode in lUicktield. 
Without a religious organization, or even a church member in the 
village, it was an unpromising field of labor for the young 
preacher. He commenced preaching in Cnion Chapel, where, 
through his zeal, ability and the enthusiasm of his personality a 
considerable religious interest was awakened. He was soon im- 
pressed with the desirability of a smaller meeting-place for minor 
church gatherings, and with this thought in mind, but with slight 
anticipation of realizing his wishes, he one day, in company with 
Hon. \'irgil D. Tarris, an occasional attendant at his meetings, 
casually asked him the following question: "If the money could 
be raised for building a little chapel for prayer and social meet- 
ings, how would you feel about allowing it to be jdaced some- 
where on vour land"-'" A few weeks later .Mr. Parris replied: 
"If vou will enlarge your plan and build a pretty meeting-house, 
that will be an ornament to the street. I will give you a lot and 
buy a pew." Put without a church member in the village, and 
with no capitalists interested in such an enterprise the thought of 
building such a house seemed entirely Utopian ; yet here was the 
beginning of the Paptist Church buikling. Stimulated with this 
thought, AFr. Small ])rocured a working plan for a house, and 
througli ])ersonal Sdlicitations a frame for a building was oljtained 
bv gift from the farmers of Buckfield an>l adioining towns, each 



154 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

bringing- a load of timber, as specified on the plan, and by all sorts 
of similar efiforts and untiring work by ^Ir. Small and the ad- 
vance sale of pews, the house was brought to completion. 

At that time no minister's salary in Buckfield afforded family 
support, and as some of Mr. Small's former Hebron students 
desired to continue their studies under his instruction, a plan was 
formed for ekeing out a living by the aid of a family school, and 
somehow from almost nothing a family residence was built chiefly 
for that purpose. Mr. Small began living in his new home on Sat- 
urday, Aug. 2T,, 1856, having modest family apartments and one 
student's room finished. On the following Tuesday he closed the 
house, and with his wife went to an association at Yarmouth, and 
while there he received the distressing news that his house, on 
which he had built such bright hopes, with all his worldly posses- 
sions, was but a heap of ashes, its destruction having occurred 
Tuesday night. But through his wonderful energy and the 
generosity of the people another and more spacious house, now 
known as the Jason Damon house was soon erected. 

During Elder Small's residence here he preached once a 
month for two years in ]\Iechanic Falls, his labors resulting in 
the organization of the Baptist church in that village. He 
terminated his labors in Buckfield in the summer of 1858, leaving 
with great reluctance its people and associations. His resigna- 
tion was deeply regretted by the whole community, and his fare- 
well sermon was listened to by a large and sympathetic congre- 
gation of friends and parishioners. Of this occasion the church 
records say : "On the Sabbath of August 8, 1858, our pastor. 
Rev. A. K. P. Small, preached his farewell sermon, having re- 
ceived a call to a larger field of labor with the First Baptist 
Church at Bangor. The youthful church, having by the blessing 
of God been gathered through the instrumentality of his faithful 
and untiring labors, the separation was solemn and aft'ecting. 
The Great Shepherd above can alone heal the bleeding wound 
and supply the wants of the little flock." Thus ]\Ir. Small went 
from the scenes of his early labors to the fields of his great life 
work. Then followed the strong years of his manhood, with 
faithful, exalting pastorates in the First Church in Bangor, the 
Free Street Church in Portland, and the First Church in h'"all 
River. Mass., then back to Portland with the First Church until 
his advancing years influenced his retirement from its great 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 155 

pastoral cares. Retaining membership in tliis church, he re- 
signed as its pastor, with the thought of never again resuming 
pastoral cares; but moving to Waterville, he occupied the pulpit 
in Fairfield two years, followed by the same length of time in 
Biddeford; and then, after fifty years of active, eventful pastoral 
work, he retired to reside with his son, who had become prom- 
inently connected with the University of Chicago. 

Soon after his arrival in Chicago a sad family affiiction came 
to him in the total blindness of his beloved wife, who, in all the 
associations of his life work had been his strong and constant 
helper. 

During Dr. Small's pastorate in Bangor he was elected to 
membership on the Board of Trustees of Waterville College, 
which he continued to hokl till he left the State, and from that 
university he received his degree of D.D. 

Dr. Small Avas a man of strong and robust physique, 
a deep thinker, earnest, forceful, and an eloquent pulpit orator. 
His personality as a man and a preacher is enduringly fixed in 
the associations of Buckfield, and the present religious interests 
of the village are largely the fruits of his early labors. 



156 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Union Chapel. 

Union Chapel, the most spacious and prominent public build- 
ing ever erected in Buckiield is rich in the local historic associa- 
tions of the past seventy years. From its elevated site, over- 
looking" all the surrounding country, it is a conspicuous landmark 
from all approaches. It is a typical Xew England meeting- 
house suggestive of the good old days of our fathers and 
mothers. It was a union house in the building of which nearly 
all the prominent citizens of the community of various religious 
denominations zealously participated. The building of this 
house was the outgrowth of public sentiment in favor of a more 
central and suitable place for public worship than the town house 
and the various small schoolhouses in which meetings were occa- 
sionally held. To carry the new enterprise into effect a society 
was formed as shown from the following copy of its records : 

"To Samuel F. Brown, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the 
County of Oxford and State of Maine: 

The undersigned inhabitants of the towns of Buckfield, Hartford and 
Sumner, in said County, being desirous of incorporating ourselves into a 
society, with other associates, for the purpose of erecting a Meeting house 
in said Bucktield, hereby request that you will issue your warrant to one 
of us, directing him to notify us to meet at the Academy in said Buck- 
field Village on the third day of April at one o'clock in the afternoon for 
the purpose of forming said corporation. 

Buckfield, March 25, 1830. 

Aaron Parsons, Benjamin Spaulding, 

William Cole, Jonathan Buck, 

James Jewett, Daniel Chase, 

Lucius Loring, James Bonney, Jr., 

Nathan Atwood, Larnard Swallow, 

Levi Turner, Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., 

Caleb Cushman, Leonard Spaulding, 

Zadoc Long, Benj. Tucker, 

William Bard, Noah Hall, 

David Warren, James Bowker, 

George Bridgham, Virgil D. Parris." 
Samuel Buck, 

In response to this petition a warrant was issued to Nathan 
Atwood and at a meeting on the date named an organization, 




o 



13 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD I59 

to be called "Union Chapel Society" was perfected. Aaron Par- 
sons was moderator of the meeting and Samuel F. Rrown was 
chosen clerk. Several others were subsequently admitted to the 
society. 

At an adjourned meeting', April 12, 1830, the following^ votes 
were passed : 

"Voted tliat the liouse shall l)e for the use of the pew holders in pro- 
portion to the numher of their pews, each pew having the right of two 
votes, and each denomination shall have the use of the house for such a 
proportion of the time as their numher of votes hears to the whole num- 
her, but no denomination shall deprive any other from use of the house 
when they shall not occupy it themselves, even during the time in which 
it belongs to them. 

Voted that all timbers, shingles, etc., shall be delivered on the spot on 
the first day of April next, and the house he completed before December 
183 1. 

\'oted that the pews be put up at auction and bid off to the highest 
bidders, to be paid for as follows: In October, 1831, in neat stock, or if 
not so paid, then in Januarj- following in corn and grain, or if not so 
paid, then in March following in cash. 

\'oted that those who bid off materials and labor shall receive their 
pay in pews and the balance in neat stock, corn or grain according to 
above vote." 

It was voted to adopt as a model for the plan and style of the 
hottse the L'niversalist church in Livermore with the exceptions 
of tlie belfry and gallery which were to conform to those in the 
Universalist church in Norway. Xathan Atwood, one of the 
most active promoters of the house was delegated to visit the 
church at Livermore and from his measurements, plans and speci- 
fications were made. To accommodate the many patrons of the 
house the supplies O'f building materials were divided into small 
lots which were awarded to more than fifty different bidders at 
prices per thousand averaging as follows: Hemlock boards and 
dimension lumber, $4.50; pine boards, $6.50; clear sea.soned i^'ne 
boards for pews and inside finish, $16; shingles, $2.25; cla])- 
boards, $15. 

A site for the church was first selected on land of Uenjamin 
Spaulding near the .Academy, hut this was abandoned for the 
more conspicuous half-acre li)t near the dwelling house of Don 
D. Daggett, which was ottered by Rev. William Pidgin in ex- 
change for pew numbered forty-two, as shown on the plans for 
the proposed building. At a society meeting, June 15, 1830. 



160 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

fifty pews were sold at auction at an average price of thirtv dol- 
lars and the sale was continued at subsequent meetings. 

Union Chapel was erected in the season of 183 1 and in the 
spring of that year active building operations, under supervision 
of various committees were begun. Daniel Chase. Xathan At- 
wood and Jonathan Buck were a committee on grading and 
foundation and Larnard Swallow. William Cole and Rodney 
Chafifin a committee to appraise neat stock, which was to be re- 
ceived in payment for pews and to be sold or turned over to the 
building contractor for his services. Aaron Parsons contracted 
to build the house at a price of one thousand dollars for the 
la'bor above the underpinning, he to receive in payment the un- 
sold pews and the balance in such property as might be received 
from pew-purchasers. The building carpenter was David Carey 
of Turner. The raising of the house was an event of great public 
interest which attracted a large gathering of people. The women 
and children were stationed in Mr. Spaulding's pasture across the 
street while the men reared the massive frame with shouts and 
cheers. The total cost of the structure, excluding gratuities in 
labor and materials was a little more than two thousand dollars. 
Its size was fifty-six by forty-one feet and the top of its spire was 
ninetv-one feet above the ground. William Pidgin frequently 
gave the geometrical measurement of this epire as a problem for 
his academy students to solve. The house was not entirely com- 
pleted and accepted till February. 1832. 

One who reads these pages or knows anything about the 
town at any period cannot fail to note the strong individuality of 
the people of Buckfield and this marked characteristic has been 
manifested from the earliest times to the present day. Xothing 
better illustrates this fact than the division of religious views en- 
tertained by the builders of this edifice. This variety of individ- 
ual beliefs and purposes divided what otherwise might have been 
a united eft'ort to establish in the early da}'s a permanent religious 
society. It is evident the good people of that day did not realize 
the true cause of their failure and it is scarcely to be wondered 
at, that some in their disappointment at times erroneously re- 
garded the citizens of Buckfield, as a whole, a godless people and 
called them such but they were never this. There may have 
been a very few such in every age as in almost every community, 
vet the great mass of the people in every station in life has ever 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 161 

borne testimony of the highest Christian and moral char- 
acteristics. 

The denominational rights to the use in the house were ap- 
portioned by a committee, consisting of Daniel Chase, Dominicus 
Record and Samuel F. Brown, who dividiod the proprietors into 
five classes, representing one hundred and twenty-two rights on 
the basis of two rights to a pew, with the following assignments : 

To class number one, consisting of I7niversalists, was as- 
signed thirty-seven Sabbaths of the year, its representation being 
eighty-eight rights as follows : 

\\'illiam Bridgham, lo rights; Isaac Turner, 2 rights; Jona- 
than Buck, 2 rights; Zenas ^litchell, 2 rights; Joseph Turner, 2 
rights; Leonard Spaulding, 3 rights; Wm. Bard, i right; Elisha 
Buck, 2 rights ; Daniel Chase, 2 rights ; Samuel Buck, 2 rights ; 
Levi Turner, 2 rights ; Axcel Spaulding, 2 rights ; E. Warren, 2 
rights; Xoah Hall, 2 rights; David Warren, 2 rights; Rodney 
Chaffin, 2 rights ; John Warren, 2 rights ; James Bonney, Jr., 4 
rights; Geo. Bridgham, 4 rights; James S. and S. Buck, 2 rights; 
Jaimes Bowker, i right; Samuel B. Perry, 2 rights; Elijah Jor- 
dan, 2 rights; D. B. Warren, 2 rights; Benj. Heald, 2 rights; 
Benj. Tucker, 2 rights; Nathan Atwood, 6 rights; Calvin Bisbee, 
2 rights; Caleb Cushman, 4 rights; Aaron Parsons, 10 rights; 
Dominicus Record, 2 rights ; Luther Turner, i right. 

To class number two, consisting of those who denominated 
themselves "liberals" were assigned eight Sundays and twenty 
rights as follows : 

\\'illiam Cole, 6 rights ; Luther Crocker, i right ; James Jew- 
ett. 3 rights; Ira Gardner, 2 rights; Lucius Loring, 2 rights; 
Zadoc Long, 4 rights; A. D. White, i right; Jonas Spaulding, 
I right. 

To class number three, consisting of sundry proprietors, re- 
questing to be classed together, were assigned four Sundays, or 
eight rights, viz.: Benj. Spaulding, Nathaniel Shaw, Samuel F. 
Brown and Larnard Swallow, two rights each. 

To class number four, consisting of Baptists, one Sunday was 
assigned. This class had five rights, represented by Noah 
Prince, D. W. Corliss, \\'illiam Safiford and Nathaniel Harlow. 

Class number five consisted of only one person, the Rev. Will- 
iam Pidgin, Congregationalist. His rights entitled him to less 
than a day's use of the house but an overlaying fraction from 
another class was added to his, giving him one full Sunday. 



162 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The house was dedicated June 6, 1832 -xvith a large concourse 
of people from Buckfield and surrounding- towns. The sermon 
was preached by Rev. Seth Stetson. Xearly seventy years have 
passed away since that day and the builders of the church have 
all gone to their final rest, but in the memories of our oldest citi- t 
zens that interesting- occasion is cherished as an impressive event 
of their youth and a red letter day in the past historv of the 
village. 

Union Chapel for several years after its vledication was occu- 
pied in accordance with the assignment previously recorded, the 
Universalists supporting settled ministers and clergymen of vari- 
ous other denominations preaching occasional sermons ; but. as 
the former largely owned and controlled tlie house, it came to 
be known as a Universalist church. Sabbath services were 
somewhat irregularly continued till 1855, after which date the 
religious exercises were usually confined to preaching and a Sab- 
bath school during the summer months, but these were discon- 
tinued in 1874, after which the house remained unoccupied ex- 
cepting its occasional use for secular meetings. Aside from its 
use for religious purposes which included many notable conven- 
tions, the house was prominently associated with the people as a 
common meeting place on all important public occasions to which 
its doors were always open. During a period of forty years it 
was the exposition hall for the political, educational, musical and 
other associative interests of the community. Tn 1836 it was the 
scene of an enthusiastic celebration of the anniversary of our 
National Independence with an oration by Hon. \'irgil D. Parris 
and in 1853 the Buckfield High School students, under Principal 
S. T. B. Willey gave an exhibition in the house which has taken 
prominence in the educational annals of the village and in which 
a large number of students who have since become well-known 
citizens participated. Music was furnished by the somewhat 
famous Buckfield Brass Band and the program occupied an after- 
noon and evening. 

When the hostilities of the late Civil War began in 1861 this 
old house was flooded with a tide of patriotic enthusiasni at the 
war meetings of .the citizens which invested it with hallowed re- 
membrance of the old Faneuil Hall of Buckfield ; and again when 
the tidal wave of temperance, known as the Reform Movement 
of 1873. swept over the country, it became the place of continued 



HISTORY OF BUCK FIELD 163 

and zeal-inspiring meetings. Here, too, in 1884 occurred the 
first meeting in Uuckfield in observance of Memorial day and 
also in 1900 of Old Home week with an oversowing house of 
old and young citizens and with old-time songs, remarks bv vari- 
ous sons and daughters of the town and an address by Hon. John 
D. Long, then secretary of I'nited States Xavy. ."Similar observ- 
ances were held here the following year, which included the 
simple dedicatory exercises of the Zadoc Long h>ee Library. 
In 1863 the house had become considerably^ out of repair. Many 
of the old proprietors had passed away and others had grown 
indifferent ; but a few of those who retained a deep interest in the 
old house called a meeting and voted to assess the pews to raise 
the needed funds for repairs. Only a small number of the own- 
ers resix)nded and the pews of delinquents were sold at auction, 
a controlling number of which were bid off by Sullivan C. An- 
drews and Charles B. Atwood and from the funds thus received 
the house was placed in good repair. It was subsequently struck 
by a bolt of lightning which shattered the belfry and left its 
traces through the interior of the house. The exterior damage 
was gratuitously repaired by Ozen Spaulding and Alfred Cole 
and the 'house was painted by subscription procured through the 
efforts of Mrs. Charles Withington and other ladies. Xo further 
efforts for its perservation were made till iScj-t, when it had 
fallen into sad decay. For years it had been abandoned, a prey 
to vandal hands and the elements of nature, till it stood with vane 
awry, windows broken and roof gradually falling in and nothing 
short of prompt repairs could save it from utter ruin. The 
dilapidated condition of the dear old landmark of his childhood 
awakened the sympathies of Hon. John U. Long, who oft'ered a 
liberal contribution towards its restoration, provided the town 
would purchase it for a town hall. Frank P. Withington im- 
mediately devoted his time and energies to this project and sent 
out appeals to absent sons and daughters of the town wliich met 
with generous response. His successful eff'orts were supi^le- 
mented by an organization of citizens and the sum of five hun- 
dred dollars was soon pledged. 

A town meeting was held in October, 1894, to see if the town 
would vote to purchase the house for a town hall at a nominal 
price not exceeding one hundred dollars. The meeting was 
largely attended and the question at issue was hotly contested, a 



164 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

strong opposition to the proposed purchase having developed ; 
but, after an exciting debate, the friends of the old house won 
the day. This action was soon followed by a legal re-organiza- 
tion of the proprietors of the church, who voted to sell it to the 
town for seventy-five dollars for a town hall, on condition that 
it should be kept in constant repair. ^lost of the proprietors 
donated their holdings. At the annual town meeting the follow- 
ing spring the town appropriated two hundred dollars for the 
purchase and repair of the house and this amount united with 
the subscription funds, soon restored the house to its old-time 
condition and appearance. Its dedicatory exercises occurred 
Nov. 3, 1895, under the auspices of the citizens and the Grand 
Army Posts of Buckfield an>l Sumner. It was a memorable oc- 
casion, with a s}mipathetic audience, for the old house was en- 
deared to nearly every one present by sacred memories and asso- 
ciations of an honored ancestry. The exercises were informal 
and wholly by local talent, with speaking by citizens and music 
by the Buckfield Band, stationed in the gallery from which the 
old band of the same name, nearly half a century before, had 
entertained the people. Since that date the house has been occu- 
pied for town meetings and public exercises of Memorial days 
and Old Home week. Its acquisition by the town insures the 
future preservation of its most cherished landmark and affords 
one of the finest town halls in Oxford County. 

'"Winning the dawning smiles of the sun, 
And its lingering kiss when the day is done, 
From all approaches a beacon seen. 
Piercing the blue above the green; 
O'erlooking the scene a befitting crown 
Of the landscape fair, and the beautiful town : 
The pride of our father's toil and skill-^ 
The old white chapel that stands on the hill."' 

Alfred Cole. 

uxiversaltsts. 

A large number of the early residents of Buckfield were 
never in full accord with the dogmas of the established churches 
and when the doctrines of universal salvation were promulgated 
as the teachings of an organized church, they were readily em- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD l(j5 

braced by many citizens. As Universalism spread over the coun- 
try its ministers occasionally visited this town, preaching in 
school houses and winning converts and a controversial spirit on 
religious matters and scriptural interpretations prevailed in the 
comnuuiity. The organization of Union Chapel Societv in 1830 
included thirt}--three proprietors in tlie proposed church build- 
ing, who classed themselves as Universalists and eight who 
classed themselves as Liberals and these two classes represented 
nearly nine-tenths of the ownership and control of Union 
Chapel. Xo society of L'niversalists was incorporated but un- 
der the associations of their classification in the chapel society 
they united in support of religious services and other church af- 
fairs customary with parishes. 

Among the early occasional preachers of the new faith in 
Buckfield were Revs. Samuel Hutchinson, .Seth Stetson, William 
A. Drew, A. ]\I. Hawkins. Russell Streeter, Sylvanus Cobb and 
George Bates. Several of them became eminent in their denom- 
ination. Th first resident preacher of record was Rev. Samuel 
Hutchinson, who came here from Windham, his native town, and 
settled on the place later known as the Leonard Russell farm, 
where he died in 1828. Originally a Free Baptist preacher, he 
changed his views to Universalism and wrote and ])ublished a 
book giving "good reasons" for his change of belief. 

The first Universalist clergyman to settle here professionally 
was Rev. Seth Stetson, familiarly known as "Father" Stetson, 
who moved here from Brunswick in ^lay, 1830. He had for- 
merly been a resident of Boston and an Orthodox luinister but 
becoming a convert to Universalism, he made a missionary tour 
to ]\Iaine, finally locating at Brunswick. He preached in Buck- 
field one or two Sabbaths each month about three years, w'hen he 
fell under the displeasure of some of his strong supporters on 
account of his public utterances in advocacy of temperance ; and, 
feeling that his usefulness here as a preacher was ended, he re- 
turned to Brunswick where he passed the remainder of his life. 
For several years, however, he made occasional visits here, 
preaching to the acceptance of all. He is ]:)leasantly recalled as 
c-m amiable, e.xemplary man. always highly esteemed as a citizen 
and preacher. 

The retirement of Father Stetson was followed by a season 
of dullness in religious affairs with only irregular services by 



166 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

visiting clergymen of various denominations and many Sabbatli£ 
went by with no religious meetings in the village. But in 1838 
there was a revival of church interest among the Universalists 
with a united effort to employ a minister. Rev. George Thomes, 
then a resident of Turner, began to preach and soon entered up- 
on a prosperous pastorate which continued nearly ten years. 
The relations of his people continued pleasant until the summer 
of 1844, when an element of discord appeared resulting from the 
presence of a preacher named Canfield. then a stranger here, and 
of whose history little is now known. He obtained considerable 
temporary popularity but preached only a short time and it does 
not appear that his services were productive of any good results. 

Mr. Thomes was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Foster, who 
moved here from AMnthrop in the spring of 1845. He preached 
occasionally for a time and in 1847 began to supply the 
pulpit in Union Chapel. He was employed legularly only a few 
years but he continued to reside here till 1861, preaching in this 
and various other towns. Fie was a scholarly man and acquired 
a wide reputation as a teacher. He was the last resident L ni- 
versalist preacher in Buckheld and after his removal no regular 
preaching was sustained : but during the summer months sup- 
port was frequently given for sermons by various clerg\'men, 
prominent among whom were Revs. George Bates and \\'illiam 
R. French and ui later years. Prof. Cone and J- ^F Paine, a stu- 
dent, both from Canton X. Y. Theological Seminary. During 
the many years of their activity the Universalists sustained public 
services a part of the time at East Buckfield where they had an 
assigned holding in the meeting-house, visiting and resident cler- 
g}nnen of the village often preaching there. Associations of the 
denomination were also held there. Among the prominent 
patrons in that part of the town were Lewis Mas^n. Isaac Sliaw 
and \'aranes DeCoster. 

In August, 1867. a Universalist parish was organized in the 
village, partially in the interest of the denomination, but more 
especially as 3. means for the repair and preservation of Union 
Chapel. During the last decade in the occupancy of Union 
Oiapel for public worship its religious associations were centered 
in a large and flourishing Sabbath school successively under the 
superintendence of Thomas Chase, Sullivan C. Andrews and Al- 
fred Cole. A good library was acquired, and patrons, old and 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 



167 



young, from all parts of the town contributed to the success of 
the school, giving it a broad inlluence in the community; but for 
various natural causes its prosperity declined till in 1874, when 
it was discontinued, and the old church on the hill was left with 
closed doors alone with its memories. Since that time Universa- 
list preaching has been confined to occasional sermons at North 
and East Buckfield and in the Methodist church in the village. 
The association of L'niversalists in Buckfield embraced many 
representative citizens of the past. In its early years one of its 
strongest supporters was Dr. William Bridgham, whose spacious 
house was always a place of hospitality for clerical representa- 
tives of his chosen faith. Aaron Parsons was another patron 
whose long devotion is worthy of special record. Other faithful 
helpers were James Bonney, Jr., Xoah Hall and Benjamin Heald, 
whose descendants in this town to this day retain the religious 
faith of their lathers. The zealous workers of later years were 
Thomas Chase, Sullivan C. Andrews, Asa Kobinson. Xathan O. 
Storer, Ozen Spaulding, Josiah W. \\'hitten. Dastine Spaulding, 
Andrew J. Hall, Albion P. Bonney, Mrs. Charles Withington and 
Mrs. Sullivan C. Andrews. Dastine Spaulding and Mr. Storer 
were enthusiastic singers antl tlie former led the choir. All of 
the men have passed to their final rest, leaving their name< in 
honored memory. 

REV. GEORCE TTIOMES. 

Rev. George Thomes was born in West Gorham, }klarch 9, 
1795. He was a son of Sanuiel Thomes, a Free Baptist clergy- 
man. At the age of eighteen he was converted and baptized in 
the faith of his fatlier ; but when he came to ponder on religious 
matter.^ he became inclined towards a more liberal doctrine and 
was impressed with a desire to become a preacher of the gospel. 
He moved to Portland where he often conferred with a I'niversa- 
list minister called "Father"' Raynor, who advised him to become 
a preacher of his faith. .Accordingly he prepared himself and 
jireached his first sermon in his native town, following with pul- 
pit labors in various parts of Cnml)erland County. In 1836 he 
accepted a call to Otisfield and from there he moved to Turner, 
then to Buckfield, where he passed the remainder of his life. He 
had a wide acquaintance with the people of his denomination, his 
liousc being a home of visiting clergymen, witli whom he often 



♦I 



168 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD ^ 

exchanged. He was active in public affairs, took a deep in- 
terest in school matters and was widely known as an educator. 
In politics he was a Democrat of the Je.ffersonian school and ' 
served as postmaster under the administration of President 
Buchanan. He reared a large family of sons and daughters, 
who became prominently identilied with the social and business 
interests of the community. He was a devoted Free Mason, 
having joined the order at Bridgton in 1826, and was one of the 
founders of ^It. ]\Ioriah Lodge, Denmark. He died in Buck- 
field, ]\Iay 6, 1871, and was buried with ^Masonic honors by Eve- 
ning Star Lodge of which he was acting chaplain. His funeral 
sermon was from the text, his own selection; "I know that my 
Redeenier liveth." 

RE\'. FREDERICK FOSTER. 

Frederick Foster was born in Salem, X. H.. May 10, 1813. 
His father died, leaving a family of eleven children when Fred- 
erick was six years old. His mother, being unable to provide 
for so many, they were necessarily separated, Frederick going to 
Xewbury, \'t., with an uncle. He remained there six years and 
then passed three years in a store in Charlestown, I\Iass. He 
returned to his native town, learned the trade of shoemaker, and 
went into business in another town. At the age of eighteen he 
became impressed with a strong desire to enter the ministry. He 
had diligently improved his limited opportun"iies for reading and 
study and acquired the rudiments of a good education. But he 
saw the necessity of more thorough acquirements and against 
the discouragements of friends and relying wholly upon his own 
efforts, he entered Dartmouth College from which he graduated 
in 1 840. He prepared for the ministry under the tuition of that 
eminent tlieologian, Dr. Hosea Ballou, auvl declining a call from 
Alanchester, X^. H.. he settled at Winthrop, .Me., in 1842. where 
he was ordained. He remained there until August. 1845, ^vhen 
he moved to Buckfield, residing here fifteen }ears and preaching 
here and at Xorth Turner, Sumner, Harpswell. Freeport and 
Xew Gloucester, a portion of the time in each of these places. 
In i860 he responded to a call from Meriden. Conn., but in the 
following spring removed to \\'eare. X. H.. where he continued 
to preach until the day of h.is death. On the first Sunday in 
iNIarch. 1865, he preached two sermons to tb.e great satisfaction 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIF.LD l(j9 

of his hearers from this text in Psahns : "Create in me a clean 
heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me."' On the fol- 
lowing day, not feeling well, he lay (U)wn to rest and was soon 
apparently in a refreshing slumber. An hour later his wife ap- 
proaching his bedside found him in the f]uiet sleep of death. 
Mr. Foster had three children. l)ut none of his family now sur- 
vive him. His wife is recalled as an estimaJjle lady and his son, 
Frederick, as a precocious student under his father's exacting 
tutelage. Fie became a teacher and devoted most of his years to 
literary work. He died a few years ago in Xew Hampshire. 

The individuality of l^Vederick Foster has been well preserved 
in the association of lUickfield, not so much, perha]:)s, for his 
ability as a preaclier as for his reputation as a scholar and his 
impress as the village schoolmaster to the boys and girls of half 
a century ago, who now, as memljers of an elder generation, re- 
late the school-dav tales of their vouth. 



FREE BAPTIST. 

During the first half of the century just passed quite a num- 
ber of Free Baptist families resided in the northwest part of the 
town and public services were held in the schoolhouse there many 
years with preaching by Elders Charles C. Witham and Joseph 
Hall, who were farmers and residents of the neighborhood; but 
the local interests of this denomination centered in the east part 
of the town at Federal Corner where a union meeting-house was 
erected in 1833. Here their earliest churcl: associations were 
formed, which in later }ears developed considerable strength 
and influence. W'e are fortunate in the following historical 
sketch of their earlv davs written In- Rev. Joseph Indlerton in 
1847: 

"There was preaching by the Free Will Baptists in Hebron, a 
town siutherlv of this, aboat the comuiencement of the present 
century and a church constituted. .Some of the members lived 
in Buckfield and the brethren of the two towns were united in 
one church until 1824. A young man. named Daniel llutchin- 
son, a native of Windham, lived in the town and im])rove(l pub- 
licly and to profit. Nov. 21, 1802, at a ([uarlerly meeting held 
at Corham, he was set a])art to the work of tlie ministry by ]irayer 
and the lavinc-- on of hands, lie labored in Ikickfield and vicin- 



170 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

ity with success and then adopted Calvinistic sentiments and 
joined the Baptists. After he had been in that connection awhile 
he embraced Free Communion sentiments and left the denom- 
ination. After some years he returned to that church agaui. 
His son, Joseph, is also a Baptist preacher. 

The next preacher who did much in Buckfield was Elder 
Samuel Hutchinson, who was ordained at Parsonsfield in Novem- 
ber, 1806. He lived in town and preached some time, after 
which his mind became entangled with several new notions and 
finally he settled down to the belief of Universalism. He died 
not far from 1828. He was useful while with the Free Will 
Baptists. Elder Stephen Hutchinson and Bro. Asa Hutchinson, 
a licentiate, are now Free Will Baptist preachers and have, we 
trust, a great attachment to the cause so dear to their father in 
the days of his prosperity. 

The bretheren in Buckfield were separated from Hebron and 
formed into a church April 16, 1824. The number of members 
at first was twenty-three. At that time Elder Hubbard Chand- 
ler, a native of Wilton, was in the place blowing the trumpet of 
jubilee with success. In the course of that spring and summer 
he baptized about thirty, The meetings Avere held in private 
houses and barns, but the presence of Christ was there and the 
places were awful to the wicked, but glorious to believers. In 
the course of a few years that followed, the church enjoyed the 
occasional labors of Elders Jordan, Files, Hathorn, Hobson, 
Hutchinson, White, Tracy and Witham. At length, some time 
after 1830, Elder Clement Phinney, a native of Gorham, moved 
into the place and tarried two or three years, devoting a portion 
of his labors to this church. The church had become much dis- 
ordered and while he was with it, in September, 1831, with the 
assistance of Elder Flobson, a re-organization was eiiected in 
which twenty-four united. 

The next minister that resided in the place was Elder Zaclia- 
riah Jordan. He commenced about 1834 auvl continued some 
three years, during which there was some increase. In the latter 
part of his labors in 1837, it was a dying time. About the latter 
part of August, five children of Mr. Henry DeCostcr died in ten 
days. God's judgments were abroad and some feared but did 
not fly to the Savior. In 1839 ^^"^6 church v>'as low. b'lt in the 
soring some hail a mind to arise and build. A protracted meet- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIF.LD 171 

ing was commenced which continued eleven days. Much of the 
labor was performed by Elders A. Wheeler and Levi llersey. 
God worked with them and several were converted. In May, 
Elder Wheeler baptized about twenty. The church adopted a 
covetiant and about this time Elder Levi Hersey took charge. 
The season continued glorious and he baptized about forty. 
Elder Hersey preached in the place two years and left the church 
in a good state. After this, Elder Wheeler supplied one year. 



The sketch of Mr. Fullerton closes during the pastorate of 
Elder Robert Hayes when the church had a membership of sev- 
enty-nine. Elder Hayes was a native of Windham and took 
charge of the church in January, 1843, remaining four years and 
laboring acceptably, but with small growth of the church. 

During the next two years the pulpit was supplied by Elders 
Phinney, Hayes and W^illiam C. AMtham of W'est Buckfield, who 
became a member of the society. They were followed in 1840 
by Elder Charles Dow, who remained two years, during which 
a good degree of interest was sustained and some additions made 
to the membership by baptism. For several years following the 
church was without a resident minister and its prosperity some- 
what declined. Elder -Witham was the principal preacher and 
labored faithfully in the interests of the society. 

Li 1856 Elder E. G. Eaton became a resident and preached 
several years with success. He was succeeded by Elder Otis 
Andrews, who remained several years, preaching here and in 
other places. He was the last resident clergyman and since his 
departure the cliurch has been dependent on transient ]:)reachers 
and clergymen from neighboring churches. In 1878 a revival 
occurred and thirteen persons were baptized in July of that year 
by Rev. ^Ir. Marriner of Auburn and in 1879 four were baptized 
bv former pastor, E. G. Eaton, and two others were received into 
the church. For several years preaching was supplied by the 
pastors of the churcli at East Hebron. In August, 1881, Rev. 
Robert Scott began a pastorate wliich continued two years. He 
was followed by Rev. Mr. Towne in 1884 and by C. C. Keen 
during the two succeeding years. Of late years the society has 
become scattered and lost much of its former denominational in- 
terests and its services have been largely by Mclhodi.st clergy- 
men from the villaire. 



172 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

One of the most beloved pastors of the church was Elder 
Clement Phinney, who followed his early pastorate with short 
terms of service and frequent visits for many years and in the 
society affairs of difticulty his advice and counsel were often 
sought. He was an interesting preacher and a delightful singer 
and the interests of the social meetings were greatly enhanced by 
his gift of song. lie was a great-grandson of Capt. John Phin- 
ney, the first settler of Gorham. He died in Portland, ]March 2, 
1855, aged 74 years. 

REV. LE\I HERSEY. 

Rev. Levi Hersey was one of the most highly esteemed pas- 
tors of the Free Baptists in Buckfield and his long and successful 
services with various churches rendered him one of the most 
Avidely known clergymen of his denomination in Maine. From 
his autobiographical notes the following sketch is largely 
gleaned : 

He was born in New Gloucester, Sept. 11, 1803. During the 
earl}' part of his manhood he was a business man and in 1836 
was a trader at West Minot. He was a skeptic on religious af- 
fairs, but in 1838, under the preaching of Rev. George Ricker, 
he was converted and received into the Baptist church. His 
mind was at once filled with religious zeal and an irresistible de- 
sire to become a preacher. His conversion occurred March 20, 
1838 and on the first Sabbath of July following he delivered his 
first sermon. Finding he was not in full accord with some of the 
articles of faith of the Baptists, he withdrew from that church 
and united with the Free Baptist church at Lewiston. He was 
licensed to preach in 1838, ordained to the ministry in June of 
the following year and commenced pastoral labors the next 
month with the church at East Buckfield, v^diere he remained over 
two years, during which he baptized forty-two persons in Buck- 
field and many more in other towns and saw his labors rewarded 
with a wonderful religious interest. In January, 1842, he settled 
at Falmouth, preaching there two years and baptizing forty-four 
persons. From the date of his retirement from that town until 
1 87 1 he was constantly engaged in pulpit work, with long pas- 
torates successively in Harpswell, Brunswick, Phippsburg, Bath, 
Bowdoinham and Richmond Corner. In 1871 he purchased a 
farm in Buckfield to which he removed his family and upon 




Rev. Levi Hersey 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD I75 

which he resided until his doatli. which occurred March 12. 188=;. 
Thus, after his long and faithful service in the church he re- 
turned to pass life's evening- among the scenes of his first re- 
ligious labors, for which he always cherislicd a fond attacliment. 
During all the years of his absence he had never failed of an 
annual visit to the brethren at East Buckfield. invariablv preach- 
ing to them the last Sabbath in September. This appointment 
came about informally and without public notice, and came to 
be understood as a matter of course. These annual visits, cov- 
ering an unbroken period of more than forty years were alwavs 
pleasantly anticipated by tlie whole comnumitv and made occa- 
sions of deep interest in the church. The Elder was never sent 
home empty-handed but with bountiful supplies from the fruits 
of the farm to replenish his larder. After his final return to 
Buckfield he preached for this church three years and (hiring the 
succeeding five years, or until the infirmities of age prevented 
further public service, he preached occasional sermons for the 
various churches in his vicinity and officiated at funerals far and 
near. During the first fifteen years of his pastoral work he at- 
tended forty-eight protracted meetings and he estimated that 
during his whole ministry he had baptized three hundred per- 
sons and attended six hundred funerals. Elder Hersey was a 
man of sterling character, strong convictions and a fearless 
champion of right. Though lacking early opportunities for a 
liberal education, he ]D0ssessed a wonderful fund of native abil- 
ity, and his sermons were characterized with an originality and 
earnestness which refiected the sincerity of his motives and zeal 
for the cause he advocated ant! maile him one of the most suc- 
cessful revivalists of his day. 

FFDKRAL MEETI XC-HOL'SK. 

East Lluckfield, as outlined by the old Fe('eral school district 
limits, embraced nearly all the town ea.sterly from the village dis- 
trict. With no stores or mechanical shops, it has always been 
a neighborhood of prosperous farmers, who have contributed 
largely to the agricultural wealth of the town. Its historic cen- 
ter is Federal Corner, which, with its church, schoolhouse and 
Good Templars hall, has been a place second only to the village 
in social interest. It not onlv embraces all the east ])art of liuck- 



176 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



field, but also includes a part of Hartford within the circle of its 
associations. How the name "Federal" came to be applied to 
this locality is related elsewhere. 

Federal Aleeting-house has occupied a place in the history of 
East Buckfield similar to that of Union Lhapel in the village, 
having been the center of the social and religious interests of a 
large community for about three-quarters of a century. It was 
erected as a union house in 1834 by an association, called the 
Free Afeeting-house Society, with which the most prominent citi- 




Federal Meeting-House 



7-ens of East Buckfield and South Hartford were associated. A 
building lot, containing three-fourtlis of an acre, was purchased 
by the society of Alvali Gammon at Federal Corner for thirt}- 
dollars and the building contract was let to James l\. DeCoster 
for the sum of one thousand dollars. As with Union Chapel the 
price of its pews was paid in neat stock, which in turn was re- 
ceived by the contractor for his services. The house was of 
plain, simple architecture, common with country churches of that 
day and patterned largely after Union Chapel but without a 
steeple and less spacious than that building. The fencing of the 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 177 

lot was put up at auction and struck ofif to Thomas Chase at 
"eighty-six cents for every sixteen feet. " The house was dedi- 
cated March 2^, i'^35i with small attendance caused 1)\- the large 
amount of snow and hard travelling. 

A large number of the proprietcjrs of the house were Free 
Baptists and the members of this denomination have always been 
its principal occupants and makers of its history ; but several of 
its pew-owners were Universalists to whom one Sabbath in each 
month was allotted iii the original assignii?ent of time, and who 
held public services in the house for many years. This allot- 
ment, however, did not prove harmonious, and denominational 
contentions arose, several of the pew holders being adverse to its 
occupancy by Universalists. In this contention, Dr. William 
Briilgham of the village, never lukewarm in controversial affairs, 
took a deep interest, becoming a purchaser of pews in order to 
sustain his Universalis! brethren, and the original apportion- 
ment, with slight modihcations, was preserved. But these sec- 
tarian influences passed away in time, and under the broader tol- 
eration of a later generation, public services by all denominations 
have received cordial and united welcome in the community. 
This house has been repaired from time to time through assess- 
mnts on pews and subscriptions, but at several times it has fallen 
into sad neglect, becoming a few years ago unsafe for occu- 
pancy, and religious meetings were held in the nearby Good 
Templars" hall. But in 1903 \ irgil P. DeCoster secured con- 
tributions of sufficient amount for the restoration of this old 
landmark of East Buckfield. Dedicatory services were held with 
a sermon by Rev. George X. P.icknell, D.D., of Cambridge, 
Mass., and speeches by Hon. John D. Long and many others. 

Many interesting associations of the easterly part of the town 
cluster about this old meeting-house, as the home of the Free 
Baptists and an abiding place of Universalists. Many stirring 
religious revivals, largely attended c|uarterly meetings and other 
interesting public gatherings have occurred within its walls, 
which have been far-reaching in communistic influences. 

An occasion that lingers vividly in th.e minds of the older 
people occurred in the church March 22, 1850, in the public ob- 
servance of the one hundredth birthday of Jonathan Record, one 
of the earliest settlers of Buckfield and a Revolutionary soldier. 
He was then hale and hearty with nearly five years of life be- 



178 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

fore him. The house was filled to overflowing' and a large choir 
was i^resent with appropriate selections whicli sang: 

"I take my staff and journey on. 
Till 1 the better land may view." 

And again the old familiar lines in minor strains: 
■■^ly three score years,"" etc.. substituting the word five for 
three and rendering it : 

"Aly five score years are almost run 
And like an evening gone." 

The occasional sernion was delivered by Rev. Adam Wilson, 
then of Hebron. The old-time choir of the church is of pleasant 
remembrance. Composed of a large number of good singers and 
led by Isaac Shaw, it furnished music on all public occasions and 
was somewhat famous in its day. iMr. Shaw was a tenor singer 
with a voice of remarkable compass. \\'henever there were 
plenty of other tenors present lie would sing "high alto"" with 
bell-like clearness, his inspiring notes ringing through the house 
to the great edification of the congregation. Another prominent 
feature of the old choir was its violoncello, skillfully played by 
Lewis Mason. 

MRTIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Only occasional preaching by iNlethodists was heard in Buck- 
field previous to i8~8. and the first movement in the interests of 
this church here was made by Holman V.'. Waldron, who in 
fomier years, while sojourning in California, had been converted 
to the iNCethodist faith. Zealous for the church with which he 
had united and anxious for local associations with it, he attended 
the Maine. Conference in April, 1878, and made known to that 
body his desires that a preacher might be sent to his town, which 
was an untried field of labor with the .society. His appeal was 
favorably considered and during that year W. H. Trafton, a 
local preacher, under the direction of Rev. C. C. Mason, Presid- 
ing Elder, came to Buckfield and preached in Reform Hall, over 
the Ephraim Atwood store. He found only i;ix persons in town 
of his denominational faith, but a small class was formed, of 
which he was the leader, and the meetings were Avell attended. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD I79 

This class was organized into a church in Reform Hall by Pre- 
siding Elder ^lason, Jan. 10, 1879, ^^ith eight members as fol- 
lows: Holnian ^^^ Waldron, Stephen Childs, William B. Par- 
sons and their wives, Miss Elizabeth Waldron and Airs. Ijethiah 
Davis. Stephen Childs was chosen class leader. 

At the annual Maine Conference in April, 1879, it was decid- 
ed, on account of the smallness of the churches in Buckfield and 
Turner, to unite the two in one charge and Rev. Samuel T. Rec- 
ord was appointed pastor of both churches. Mr. Record had 
been a farmer and worker in shops and took up preaching late in 
life. His educational advantages had been limited, and he had 
received no preparation for the ministry ; but he had great en- 
thusiasm and much native ability which attracted a good attend- 
ance at his meetings and created considerable public interest in 
the affairs of his church. His increasing congregations and the 
liberal j^atronage bestowed upon the church suggested the pro- 
priety of building a house of worship and through his efforts 
and the substantial aid from ]\Ir. Waldron and others, this enter- 
prise was carried into effect in the spring c.f 1881, by the erection 
of the present Methodist Church edifice. It was dedicated free 
from debt June 29, 1881, Rev. H. \V. Bolton of Boston preaching 
the dedicatory sermon. ]\Ir. Record remained pastor of the 
church three years and left it in a prosperous condition. 

Rev. X. C. Clifford was next sent to this charge and remained 
one year. He was a man of excellent character, but somewhat 
advanced in years and in poor health. Pie resided on a farm in 
]Monmouth and with his home cares and pulpit supplies so far 
from his place of residence, he could render but slight pastoral 
associations to the people of Buckfield aside from his brief Sab- 
bath services, public interest consequently suffered a decline, 
which, with the loss of several prominent members of the church 
through removal from the State, left the affairs of the society at 
the end of the year in a discouraging condition. Xor was the 
situation improved, but rather farther depressed by the action of 
the annual Conference in 1883, which severed the existing pas- 
toral union between Buckfield and Turner and united the latter 
with North Auburn in one charge, leaving the Buckfield church 
alone in its weakness and without provisions for a pastor. Its 
local revenues were slight and its anticipated recognition as a 
charge was not realized. This depressing state of affairs con- 



180 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

tinned three years without a regular pastor and with only occa- 
sional preaching. The members of the church became greatly 
discouraged, some of whom took letters and united with other 
religious organizations. 

At the annual conference in May. 1886, it was decided to re- 
unite the churches in Buckfield and Turner in a charge. This 
union continued until i8qo, when the two churches were again 
separated. The Conference, failing to supply a pastor for Buck- 
field, a local preacher was provided through subscription. In 
1 89 1 the union with Turner was restored, which continued until 
1894, when the Buckfield church was made a charge by itself, 
since which time it has continued an independent church. 

In 1895 ^ convenient annex to the church building for vestry 
purposes and social gatherings was erected and partially finished 
through the instrumentality of the pastor, F. W. Sadler, which 
was completed the following year by his successor. Rev. R. A. 
Rich, the greater part of its work being performed by these tVvo 
clergymen. 

In 1897 the society received, through a bequest of Mrs. Eliza 
J. Mitchell, a devoted member of the church and a resident of the 
village, her late residence on Elm street, conditioned on its use as 
a parsonage. 

This church society has never been financially or numerically 
strong, but it has always had a few faithful workers and sup- 
porters ; and, with the exception of its three pastorless years, be- 
fore mentioned, it has sustained regular preaching- by supplies or 
resident pastors and maintained Sabbath schools and other church 
meetings customary with the denomination. Piiblic Sabbath 
services have generally been held in the afternoon and its pastors 
have usually conducted services in the forenoon at East Buck- 
field. Its church edifice is located near the village center and 
has always been a favorite place of public meeting on Memorial 
days and other ]:)atriotic occasions. 

The pastors have been as follows : 



Year. 


Names. 


1879, (With Turner) 


S. T. Record. 


1880, 


S. T. Record. 


1881, 


S. T. Record. 


1882, 


N. C. Clifford 


1883, By itself, 


No supply. 


1884, 


No supply. 


1885. 


No supply. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 



181 



1886, (With Turner) 

1887. 

1888, 

1889, 

1890, By itself, 

1891, (With Turner) 
1S92, 

1893, 

1894. By itself, 

1895. 

18%, 

1897, 

1898, 

1899, 

1900, 

1901, 

1902, 

1903, 

1904, 



J. P. Roberts. 
E. K. Mabery. 
E. K. Mabery. 

E. K. Mabery. 

F. W. Snell. 
A. D. Graffam. 
Henry Crockett. 
Henry Crockett. 

G. B. Hannaford, Sup. 

F. W. Sadler 
R. A. Rich 
R. A. Rich 

G. B. Hannaford 
E. L. Hooper 
Henry C. Munson 
H. C. Munson 
H. C. Munson 
John C. Prince 
John C. Prince 



182 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XX. 
Biographical Sketches. 

samuel andrews. 

Samuel Andrews was born in Berkley in the old Common- 
wealth before 1760. He married in June, 1779, Hannah Smith 
of Taunton, an aunt of Seba Smith, the author. They moved 
into Turner, then called Sylvester Canada, about 1780. He was 
the first trader there and kept his goods in his house. They were 
brought from Portland on horseback in saddle bags. He became 
one of the leading citizens of the town. He possessed an in- 
ventive turn of mind and when the great freshet of 1785 or 1786 
swept away the mills on the river, he made a stone mortar to 
grind corn in — the motive power being furnished by wind. 

In 1790 he was elected as a member of the board of select- 
men and was re-elected three times. The following year. 1795, 
he moved into Buckfield and bought of his brother, Mark, his 
place near the residence of Capt. Josiah Parris. According to 
the journal of Rev. Paul Coffin, Samuel Andrews was in trade 
here with his brother. In 1796 he was elected one of the board 
of selectmen and was three times re-elected, the last year serving 
as chairman of the board. In 1798 he was elected representa- 
tive to the General Court — Buckfield's first representative in any 
legislative body. 

In 1799 he moved to Bridgton where he passed the remainder 
of his life. Largely through his efforts, North Bridgton Acad- 
emy was founded. 

EPHRAIM ATWOOD. 

Ephraim Atwood was justly regarded in his day as one of 
the most substantial and upright of the business men of Buck- 
field. He was born in Livermore, Oct. 2, 1808. At the age of 
iS he came to Buckfield and entered the store of his brother, 
Nathan Atwood, as clerk and served an apprenticeship of several 
years. In 1830 he made a journey to Calais, !Me., to visit his 
oldest brother, William B. Atwood. Returning to Buckfield he 
soon after formed a partnership with Nathan ]^Iorrill and pur- 
chased the store and goods of Nfathan Atwood. In partnership 



^ffi^ 




^ 


,^ 


^J^ 


jL 


"■^ W ^ "'•*• 


W 







Ephraim Atwood 




William H. Atwood 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 185 

with others or alone he traded so loi^a^ in the store located on the 
corner formed by the Hebron road with the street running over 
the bridge, that it came to be known as the Ephraim Atwood 
store. AIx)ut 1844 with his brother. Lorenzo Atwood and Levi 
Cushman, the business of mak'.ng starch from potatoes was 
started and factories were built at Buckfield and Sumner and 
these did a good business for several years. He was afterwards 
engaged with others in the wholesale flour lousiness and in the 
manufacture of shovel handles. 

Mr. Atwood was one of the chief promoters of the ISuckfield 
Branch Railroad and lost the principal part of the fortune he had 
then made by the failure of the Snrth enterjirises. This was a 
severe blow but he did not sink under it. He kept on in trade 
and literally died in the harness. 

Ephraim Atwood's integrity was never questioned. His 
sound sense and excellent judgment were proverbial. In 1S33 he 
was chosen town clerk and the next year was re-elected. In 1852 
lie represented the Buckfield district in the Legislature and was 
among those '"Morrill Democrats" by whose votes William Pitt 
Eessenden was elected L'nited States Senator in Congress. On 
the break-up of parties in 1854 he joined in forming the republi- 
can party as did all of the name in BuckfieKl and firmly held to 
th's faith through life. 

Mr. Atwood was twice married. His first wife was Eliza 
Ann ?^Iorrill. a sister of Xathan Morrill. .She was born ]\Iay 23, 
180S and died Jan. 29, 1850. He married second, Adaline Wdiit- 
ing. She was born Jan. 30, 1824 and died May 4, 1872. 



DEA. WII.LLK.M II. .\TW001). 

William H. Atwood was born in Calais. Maine. December 25, 
1826. Died in Ijuckfield. Maine, December 12, 1900. He was a 
son of William Boyden Atwood, and grandson of Capt. Samuel 
.\two()d of Livermore, Maine. 

Inclining to mercantile |)ursuits, after finishing his education 
in the Calais H'gh School, he came to Buckfield, August 4. 1847, 
at the solicitation of an uncle, the late Ephraim Atwood. and 
became a clerk in the store of E. Atwood & Co. The following- 
year. 1848, he was admitted as a partner in this firm. In the 
spring of 1853, seeing an ojjportunity to gi^ into business for him- 
self, he removed to North Turner, where he was in trade three 



186 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



m 



years in the brick store still standing in that village. Returning 
to Buckfieltl in 1856 he went into business taking as a partner the |, 
late Laurin A. Bumpus (father of Dr. Hermon Bunipus, until 
recently Director of the American Museum of Natural History 
and now President of Tufts College.) Later, forming a part- 
nership with his cousin. Benjamin Spaukling, the firm of Atwood, 
Spaulding & Co., of which he was the senior partner, built up the 
largest store and business in the place and at the time of its erec- 
tion the first Department Store in Oxford County. 

J\lr. Atwood met with more tlian average success in mercantile 
enterprises and sustained a valued reputation as a sound and con- ■ 
servative business man. | 

Early in life he identified himself with the Baptist denomina- 
tion and was an acknowledged leader in its councils. In 1S81 he 
was made a trustee in Hebron Academy, serving until his death. 
He was a member of the building committee in charge of the 
erection of Stiirtevant Hall and the present Atwood Hall at 
Hebron was made a memorial to him. 

Mr. Atwood married Helen ]\I., daughter of the late Xathan 
and Ruth (Rogers) Atwood, September 10, 1849. The product 
of this marriage was five children : Edna A., born April 16, 
1 85 1, wh.o married George H. W'atkins, of Paris, then editor of 
the Oxford Democrat and died Nov. 23, 1886; Kimball C, born 
Jan. 3, 1853, president of a leading Xew York insurance com- 
pany antl a very successful business man; Albion S.. born May 3, 
185S, died in infancy; George M., l)orn Oct. 6, i860, now treas- 
urer of South Paris Savings Bank aiid for twenty-six years 
treasurer of the County of Oxford and Evelyn P., Ixjrn Sept. 30, 
1864 and died in infancy. The mother died June 8, 1865. In 
1867 Mr. Atwood married Janette Loring. only daughter of the 
late Major Lucius Loring, who survived him by several years. 
Her death occurred at Buckfiekl, Jan. 6, 1Q03. There were no 
children by the second marriage. In the death of William H. 
x\twood, Buckfiekl lost one of its best citizens. For more than 
fifty years he was an active and useful member of the community, 
identified with all its best interests and faithful to every trust. 

KIMl'.ALL C. ATWOOf^). 

Probably no native son of Buckfiekl has had a more successful 
business career and acquired a more substantial fortune than 
Kimball C. Atwood. His parents were Dea. William H. and 




Kimball C. Atwood 



1 




George M. Atwood 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 189 

Helen ]\I. Atwood, and he was born in P)uckfield, January 3, 
1853. His education was obtained in the villai^e schools and at 
Hebron Academy. During' vacations he was clerk in his father's 
store. As a boy he was passionately fond of hunting and fishing 
and also of riding and driving. These tastes have clung to him 
in later life and he is to-day as enthusiastic in any outdoor sport 
and pastime as when a boy. 

At the age of nineteen he left home for Xew York with the 
passive acquiescence of if not with much encouragement from his 
father. He could see nothing" ahead in his native town to strive 
for but he did have hope of a future in a larger field where his 
faculties and energies would have a full opportunity for develop- 
ment. He had about him, however, something which but few 
realized or understood and this was the determination to accom- 
plish, no matter what the obstacles might be, whatever he set 
alx)ut acquiring or attaining. And this characteristic, his pluck 
and sticktoitiveness, has been the great secret of his success. He 
had chosen his field of labor wisely — there is very much in that — 
and after putting his hands to the plow so to speak, he has never 
turned to look back or change his purpose. This is an example 
for young men worth more than money or influence, though these 
are not to be slighted if taken at their real merit and value. 

^Ir. Atwood on getting settled in New York City found em- 
ployment in an old established dry goods commission house 
where he remained several years. He then changed to another 
firm in the same line of business for a shorter period when he 
accepted the position of cashier in the office of the United States 
Mutual Accident Association and for some time after was ac- 
tively interested in building up that institution. In 1885 he or- 
ganized the Preferred Accident Association which in 18Q3 was 
reincorporated as a stock company. How well this company suc- 
ceeded is shown by the fact that it is the largest in the world, 
doing exclusively a personal accident business. From being 
founder of the company he has been secretary and general man- 
ager and is now president and the largest stockholder. Its splen- 
did standing to-day is chiefiy his work and to him more than any 
one living or dead is due the present methods of conducting acci- 
dent insurance business. He originated the preferred and com- 
bination policies and he has probably done more to po])ularize ac- 
cident insurance than all others. 



190 HISTORY OF BUCKFIlrXD 

In 1895 Mr. Atwood purchased a tract of land in Southern 
Florida, which he cleared up and planted to various fruits, chief 
among them being" the pomelo or grapefruit as it is popularly- 
called. His pomelo grove is one of the finest in the world. 
Here he spends several months of the winter season. 

At Northland, his beautiful country seat near Xew York City, 
Mr. Atwood has a 200-acre farm, where fine blooded horses are 
bred. He is also extensively interested in shipping and is the 
principal owner of several vessels plying between New York 
and foreign ports. Mr. Atwood is a member of numerous clubs 
and has a fine faculty of making and retaining friends. He is 
estirnable in all his social relations and in every instinct of his 
nature a gentleman. 

Mr. Atwood married July 11, 1881, Miss Carrie B. 
Hutchings of Portland, Me., and they have had two children, 
Helen Mary, born in New York City, May 24, 1882, died Sept. 
19, 1893 ; Kimball C, Jr., born Clifton, New Jersey, Nov. 10, 
1892. now (1915) a student in Columbia College. 



GEORGE M. ATWOOD. 

George M. Atwood was born in Buckfield. Oct. 6, i860. Son 
of William H. and Helen M. Atwood. Educated at Hebron 
Academy and Columbia College Law School. Married Anna, 
daughter of Hon. Elbridge G. Hariovv, of Dixfield, Me., April 5, 
1886 — a lady of rare accomplishments and business ability. 
Member of firm of Atwood & Forbes, publishers of The Oxford 
Democrat since 1885. Admitted to the Oxford Bar in October, 
1885. County Treasurer of Oxford County from 1889 to 191 5. 
Treasurer of South Paris Savings Bank since 1900. One of the 
promoters and director of Paris Trust Company since its organ- 
ization in 1908. Trustee of Hebron Academy and vice-presi- 
dent and director of the Atwood Grape Fruit Company of New 
York. Mr. Atwood built the first telephone line into Buckfield 
in 1894 connecting with long distance lines of the New England 
Tel. & Tel. Co., at Norway. The line was used through to 
Boston for the first time on July 2, 1894. Has two sons: 
William El'bridge Atwood, a graduate of Bowdoin College in 
19 10 and now Treasurer of Hebron Academy and Raymond 
Loring Atwood, a graduate of Hebron in 1914 and entering col- 




Charles B. Atwood and Wife 



I 




Four Generations of Charles B. Atwood's Family 

Chas. B. Atwood, 82; Fred H. Atwood, 46; Helen Atwood Lyon, 24; 

Fred Atwood Lyon, 3 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 198 

leqe ill 1915. \\ illiam Elbridge Atwood (son of the above) 
married \'iola ]\1. Dixon of Portland and has one son, William 
Elbridge Atwood, Jr., born June 18, 19 14. 



CITARI.KS n. ATWXH^D. 

Charles B. .Vtwcod, son of Nathan and Ruth H. Rogers At- 
wood was born in Buckfield, April 9, 1825. The story of his life 
reads like a romance. In his 12th year he went to sea as a cabin 
boy on board of a whaling vessel which was wrecked on the 
Chilian coast of South America in December, 1838. Fortunately 
young Atwood escaped with his life and was taken on board of 
another ship bound for Fall River, Mass. This vessel was also 
shipwrecked near Montauk Point, Long Fsland, with the loss of 
nearly all the souls on board. Atwood was one of the persons 
saved and reached home in the summer of 1839. Strange as it 
may seem after being twice shipwrecked on his first voyage at 
sea, this experience did not cure him of a sea-faring life, in 
1 84 1 he shipped again as a harpooner on a whaling vessel oi 
New Bedford, Mass., under Captain Horton in the Atlantic and 
Indian oceans. He was gone 20 months but soon returned to 
the sea and made several voyages into different parts of the 
globe — one of which was into the African Congo region. His 
last voyage was made with Captain Horton to Cuba as second 
mate. Returning home to Buckfield, he engaged in business 
with his uncle, Ephraim Atwood. In 1851 he went to the gold 
fields of California but did not remain there long. For two 
years during the Civil War he was in trade in Chicago and after- 
wards for several years in Portland, Me., but in 1884 he resumed 
business at Buckfield X'illage which he continued with his young- 
est son, Edwin F. Atwood, born in 1866, as partner up to aibout 
the time of his death. Mr. Atwood married Aug. 20, 1867, Miss 
Emily D., daughter of Joshua Irish, Esq. She was born in 
Buckfield, June 22, 1827. They had several children who died 
young. A daughter, Sarah E., married John E. Moore, station 
agent at Buckfield. She has deceased. Mr. Atwood made a 
success of his business life and left a handsome competence as 
the fruits of his career. He was a man of sterling worth and 
high character and was a useful citizen in the community in 
which he lived. He died Oct. 6, 1907. 



194 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

l-Ri:i) II. AIWCX)!-. 

l'>ed H. Atwood. the only other child of Charles B. Atwood, 
who lived to grow up, was born in Buckfield, Jnly 25. 1861. His 
education was acquired in the public schools of Buckfield. Port- 
land and Auburn and Smith's lUisiness College of Lewiston. 
His business career commenced as messenger of the American 
Express Company on the 1*. «.S: (\ R. R. from Portland to 
Fabyans. X. H. After five years with the Express Company he 
returned to Iktckfield and engagXHl in trade with his father till 
i8<)3 when he moved to Rumford l-'alls and started in the retail 
grocery business. Three years after he was appointed post- 
master there which position he has held by successive re-appoint- 
ment. In politics he is a repul)lican and a L'niversalist in 
religion, lie married Aug. 12, 1882, Margaret, daughter of 
Elijah and Lucy A. Turner of Sunmer and has three children, 
(1) Helen F.. bom in Portlantl. P/ec. 11. 1883. married Newman 
C. Lyon. He died at Rumford Falls. April. 1005. They had one 
child, I'red Atwood Lyon, born Aug. 2. U)04 : ( 2^ Lucy E.. born 
December, 1885 ^^"^^ ^3> Charles R.. born October, i8t)i. 



HKRMON c. lU'Mrus. pii.n., Lr..n. 

Plermon Carey r)umpus is a descentlant of Edward lUnupiis 
who came in the Fortune with the second detachnient of the Pil- 
grims. He was born in P>uckheld, May 5, i8f)2. His parents were 
Laurin A. and Abbie A. ( Eaton ) iiumpus. His great-grand- 
father, William r)nmpns. serveil in the iMa'^sachusetts Line in the 
Revolutionary War. He married Hannah P>arrows at Plympton, 
Mass.. l-'eb. 10. 1780 and died in Hebron, Me., Jan. 7. 1813. She 
survived him 33 years. Dea. Alden lUuupus, their third chiUl. 
was born in Hebron. June 9. 178(). He married Polly, oldest 
daughter of Samuel Crafts, a soldier in the War for Independ- 
ence from Briilgewater, Mass., anil hix wife. Anna Packard. 
They were the parents of Laurin A. Bumpu^. 

The subject of this sketch attended the school at Hebron 
Acadeiuy and later took courses at higher institutions of learn- 
ing and his subsequent life has been devoted to educational and 
literary attainments and pursuits. He received his degree of 
Ph.P>., at Brown University in 1884, his Ph.D., at Clark I'ni- 







Thomas Chase 




Roscoe G. Chase 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 197 

versity in 1891, Sc. D., at Tufts College in 1905 and LL. D., at 
Clark, 1909; member faculty of pure sciences at Columbia since 
1905; member board ^lass. Biol. Lab.; I'.rooklyn Institute Arts 
and Sciences since 1902; Fellow A. A. A. S., New York Acad- 
emy of Sciences, etc., etc., etc. ; author of various works on bio- 
log-ical subjects and Natural Science. He is now President of 
Tufts College. In December, 188O, he married Miss L. Ellen 
Nightingale of Dorchester, Mass. 



HON. THOMAS CHASE. 

Thomas Chase, son of Rev. Nathaniel and Jemima (Haskell) 
Chase was born in Buckfield, June 5, 1808. As a young man he 
showed great interest in acquiring an education and early 
espoused the cause of temperance and moral reform. He be- 
came one of the noted teachers of this section of the state. He 
married ]\Iiss Esther ]\I. Daggett and raised a large family of 
children, all worthy of their excellent ancestry. Mr. Chase was 
selected by his parents to care for them in their old age and have 
the old homestead. This duty he and his good wife faithfully 
performed. 

On the break up of parties in the fifties, ]Mr. Chase assisted in 
the formation of the republican party and became one of its prin- 
cipal leaders. He was its first representative in the Legislature 
from Buckfield. This was in 1855. He was elected several 
times as one of the board of selectmen, officiating as chairman in 
1861 and to other town offices. ^Ir. Chase was elected State 
Senator in 1865 and died while a member of that body, March 13, 
1866. His death was deeply lamented by all who knew him. 



ROSCOE G. CHASE. 

Roscoe G. Chase, the oldest son and secon.'! child of Hon. 
Thomas and Esther M. (Daggett) Chase, was born in Buckfield. 
Nov. 3. 1837. On the breaking out of the Civil Wav he enlisted 
in Co. K, 13th Regiment, Elaine \'olunteers. 

This organization was in Gen. Benj. F. Butler's Expedition 
which went to Louisiana. The 13th Maine participated in the 
capture of the forts on the Mississippi river below New Orleans, 
but Commodore D. G. Farragut had run his warships past them 



198 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

and took the city. Mr. Chase contracted disease in that hot 
climate and was discharged for disabiUty. 

In November, 1865, he married Miss Ellen E. Gerrish of 
Sumner. They had a daughter, Lila G., lx)rn in Buckfield, April 
3, 1867, who died May 2, 1871. The family had moved to Au- 
burn but after a stay there of about three years Mr. Chase settled 
in Geneva, New York, where he has since resided. His son, Or- 
ville Gerrish, was born there, Alay 26, 1873. He married Miss 
Helen Stothoff and they had three children. He died July, 1914. 
Mr. Chase on going to Geneva engaged in the nursery business, 
which under his supervision as the principal member of the firm 
or company has become one of the largest and most reliable 
dealers in the country of nursery stock. 



CHARLES CHASE. 

Charles Chase, the second son and fourth child of Hon. 
Thomas and Esther M. (Daggett) Chase was born in Buckfield, 
July 18, 1841. On attaining his majority the War of the Rebel- 
lion having broken out he enlisted August 4, 1862, in Co. D, 23d 
Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers and was killed at 
Cold Harbor, Va. Charles Chase, as a young man and a soldier, 
as might be expected from his training and ancestry was one of 
the most upriglit and promising of youths. No better training 
could any boy receive and what ancestry is more to be prized 
than Pilgrim and Puritan stock and sires who fought to establish 
English rule in America and the Inclependence of this Land of 
Liberty? The love of home and country is one of the highest 
and best characteristics of human nature. Tliis noble and manly 
youth risked all and made the greatest sacrifice possible — gave 
his life that our country and its free institutions might endure. 
He and others like him who fell in that great conflict, did not 
die in vain. The Union was preserved and slavery abolislied 
tlirough their valor and sacrifice of their precious lives. 

Our country to-day for what they did is the first, the free- 
est and the best upon the earth, and will soon be tb.e greatest and 
most powerful. A grateful people will never forget what the 
Northern Soldiers did and will keep their memory green through 
all time and annually decorate their graves with flowers and 
honor them as no others are honored. 




Charles Chase 



i 




George H. Chase 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 201 

The foilowinj^ lines were written by Mrs. Abbie Chase Ilol- 
brook. It was reported after the battle that her brother was 
among the missing". It was sul)sequently ascertained that he was 
killed : 

IN MEMORIAM 

Here on fair slopes the warriors He 

Beneath their shades of green ; 

Earth clasps them close, the summer sky 

Doth o'er them brooding lean. 

These well beloved, these martyred dead, 

Who sleep each in his hard won bed. 

But winds that stir the blossoms fair 

Above each war-scarred breast, 

May fan no love-wreathed garland where 

My soldier takes his rest. 

His far lost grave fore'er shall miss 

Love's tender touch and longing kiss. 

Xo solemn dirge may reach the blue 

Of skies that arch his head ; 

Xo tears the untrimmed turf bedew 

Above him rudely spread. 

There, only sound the wild bees" hum 

And songs of birds, that unscared, come 

To perch and trill above his feet, 

And winds that shrill}- sweep ; 

And there, maybe, some wild flower sweet 

Will through the grasses creep. 

And softly lay its blushing face 

Against my soldier's burial place. 

For some, the pageantry of grief. 

The pomp of funeral trains; 

For him, but rustling grass and leaf 

With nature's careless strains. 

While Love, that sought his place of rest. 

Turns, grieving, from its hopeless quest. 



Xay, heart, where'er came death's surprise, 
He needs not dirge nor prayer ; 
As sweet his sleep 'neath alien skies 
As though his own bent there. 
What matters to the pulseless clay, 
The tribute that the living pay? 



•202 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

But take the lessons of his deeds 

Nor drown it in your tears ; 

Nor fame, nor years, the true heart needs 

That God's great summons hears. 

High purpose in achievement wrought. 

Then his white soul to heaven upcaught. 

So haloed, stands this brave young life 

Against war's background dread, 

Who gave his bosom to the strife 

Nor spared its tide of red. 

Had longest years brought sweeter death, 

More glorious hours for his last breath ! 



I 



GEORGE H. CHASE 

George H. Chase, son of Hon. Thomas and Esther M. (Dag- 
gett) Chase, was born in Buckfield on the old Chase homestead, 
the settling lot of his grandfather, May 5, 1844. He married, 
Sept. 2-4, 1865, Miss Miranda ]\I. ^Morton of South Paris. 
Three sons were born to them: Charles H., born at South 
Paris, Feb. 17, 1868, married June. 1891, Miss Alzada Chisholm 
of Maiden, Mass., and they have one son born in 1892; George 
Morton Chase born at Auburn, Me., Dec. 18, 1873, married Nov. 
2, 1898, Miss Anna McKeon of Alaklen, and they have one son, 
Richard, born in 1904; Harry Chase, the third son, born in 
Maiden, March 6, 1879, died unmarried in September, 1892. 

Mr. Chase after his marriage, spent two years in South 
Paris, then removed to Auburn and engaged in the nursery busi- 
ness with his brothers. In 1874 he settled in Maiden, ]\Iass., 
where he has since resided. His wife died there March 7, 1901 
and in September, 1903, he married Mrs. Amelia Bradford 
Harding of Denver, Colorado. She died Sept. 8, 191 3. 

Mr. Chase has been one of the most energetic, enterprising 
and successful of business men. The firm of Geo. H. Chase & 
Co., of which he is the principal member, is connected with R. 
G. Chase & Co., of Geneva, X. Y., dealers in nursery stock. 

HOWARD A. CHASE. 

Howard A. Chase, son of Hon. Thomas and Esther M. 
(Daggett) Chase, was born in Buckfield, Oct. 15, 1846. He fol- 
lowed his oldest brother to Geneva, Xew York and went into the 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 203 

nursery business with him. He married, Xov. 2^. 1871. Miss 
Mary E. Gibbs of Geneva. They removed to Philadelphia, Pa., 
where they now reside. They have had five children : Howard 
G.. born April 7, 1873 ' ^Jary Esther, born Feb. 4. 1875 ; Giarles 
Thomas, born Oct. 2j, 1876; Alice E.. born 1878 and Annie A., 
born 1880. The two first named were bcrn in Geneva and the 
others in Philadelphia. 

WILLIAM D. CHASE. 

William D. Chase, son of Hon. Thomas and Esther M. (Dag- 
gett I Chase was born in Buckfield. Aug. 26, 1852. He married, 
Aug. 15, 1877, Miss Lizzie C. \\'ithington of Lawrence, Mass. 
They have had one child, Ethel, born Augusta. Me., .\pril 16, 1879. 
Mr. Chase is a man of literary ability and a writer of note for 
the press. He was one of the editors of Chase's Chronicle dur- 
ing the rise and fall of the greenback crusade. He settled in 
Auburn. 

HOMKR X. CHASE. 

Homer X. Chase, the youngest son of Hon. Thomas and 
Esther ^L ( Daggett 1 Chase was bcrn in P>ucktield. Sept. 30, 
1855. He settled in Auburn, Me., where he now resides. He 
married Miss Emma F., daughter of Col. Charles S. Emerson of 
the 29th Maine Regiment in the Civil War. They have two 
children : Emma F.. who married Robert C. Chase of Chase, 
Alabama, and Thomas E. Chase, who resides in Auburn. 

Mr. Cha^e early became interested in the nursery business 
with his brothers and has built up a large and successful trade in 
Maine under the firm name of Homer X. Chase &: Co. Its sup- 
plies of stock are obtained from the nurseries of R. G. Chase & 
Co., at Geneva. Xew York. 



IIOX. JOHX LEWIS CHILD.S. 

It is the dream of the human race to find in the higher life 
a place lovely and beautiful beyond description and far exceed- 
ing anything the imaginaticn has pictured of the locality from 
which the fabled Adam and Eve were driven. But it has been 
the rare good fortune of onlv a verv few to live in a localitv in 



204 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

any way approaching what we conceive the earthly paradise to 
have been. John Lewis Childs, however, is one of that num- 
ber, and the floral paradise where he resides was the creation 
of his own genius. 

His parents were Stephen and Lydia A. (Chandler) Childs 
of Turner, where the father was born in 1807. He was the 
grandson of Dr. Daniel Childs who settled there in early times 
and was the first physician to practice his profession in the 
neighboring plantation of Bucktown. The family of Stephen 
Childs n:oved to a farm in Jay where the son, John Lewis, was 
born Mav 13, 1856. In 1867 Stephen Childs removed to Buck- 
field whicli he made his home till his death in 1884. His wife 
survived him for a few years. They had raised a large family 
of children. 

The subject of this sketch principally acquired his education 
in the village schools, but having from early boyhood developed 
a passionate taste for flowers, instead of taking a college course 
and entering one of the learned professions, lie determined to de- 
vote his life to their cultivation, and to dealing in them as a 
business. How well he chose is seen in liis present circum- 
stances and surroundings. After he had fully determined what 
to do, with excellent judgment, he selected a tract on Long Isl- 
and, that he might be near to the New ^'ork City market and 
he purcliascd it. The land then was little more than a dreary 
waste, but the young man from way "Down East" in Buckfield 
saw in it great possibilities and went to work to carry out his 
plans and make the place, as it is in fact to-day, a veritable 
Garden of Eden. As might be supposed, there were periods of 
discouragements and threatened failures but he persevered and 
finally wrought upon the soil, the reality of the i)icture he had 
formed in his mind. His "Floral Park" of 300 acres or more, 
as it is named, is now one of the beauty spots of earth. 

Around the home of ]\Ir. Childs has grown u]) a village oi 
handsome buildings, neat, pretty, homelike cottages with well 
kept streets lighted with electricity, church, school and hotel and 
a system of water works constructed b}- M:". Cliilds, who has 
been the author and promoter of it all. 

His private residence is in the center of a tract of ten acres 
diotted with beds of rare cacti, choice shrubbery and magnificent 
displays of all conceivable designs artistically formed with 




John Lewis Childs 



m 



/^\^^f 









f>^^'[^^^ 



1^ 




Floral Park 



% 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 



207 



foliage plants. The loveliness of the plots of flowers of every 
kind and color is surpassing- description and must be seen to 
be appreciated. The busine-s has grown to inunense propor- 
tions. He employs an anny of laborers and runs his own print- 
ing plant where htmdreds of thousands of advertising circulars 
and labels for flower and garden seeds are printed and a maga- 
zine called the Mayflower is published. 

The products of this tract with another of 900 acres named 
Flowerfield and the many acres of greenhouses under glass are 
sent to nearly every important country on earth — there being es- 
pecially a large trade with Australia and Xew Zealand. Individ- 
ual customers number over half a million yearly. Thousands of 
letters are received and sent out per day and it requires many 
stenographers and typewriters to attend to the correspondence, 
while some fifty or more young ladies are constantly booking and 
filling orders and a small army of boys and girls are needed to 
pack and prepare the seeds for shipment. Financially. Mr. 
Childs has succeeded far beyond the wildest fancies and desires 
of his boyhood. Twenty-five years ago he was said to have ac- 
cumulated a fortune of $1,500,000. 

!\Ir. Childs has been prominent in the politics of his adopted 
state and has always favored the interests of the people against 
corrupt boss rule. From being chairman of the republican coun- 
ty committee, he was chosen a member of the state committee and 
was twice elected to the senate of the Xew York Legislature 
from a democratic district, usually good for 2000 majoritv and 
was twice a candidate for Congress, running far ahead of his 
party ticket. He is known as an authority on ornithology and 
possesses the finest private library in the world on Xorth Amer- 
ican X'atural History and has the largest private collection in ex- 
istence of mounted Xorth American birds, together with their 
nests and eggs, but the world in general knows him as "John 
Lewis Childs, the Florist." He w^as married in 1886 to Miss 
Caroline Goldsmith of Xew York and they have four children. 
She is a charming and accomplished lady, a writer of stories, 
sketches of travel abroad and a prominent and well-known club 
woman. 



208 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

ALFRKD COLE. 

Alfred Cole, the youngest son of Lemuel, Jr., and Lydia 
(Lucas) Cole, was born in Hartford, Me., May i6, 1843. l^e 
passed his boyhood on the farm, attending the district school of 
his native toAvn, the high school at Canton and other places. In 
1861, he moved with his father's family to Buckfield village, 
where he resided till his death, March 13, 1913. Owing to ill 
health he was prevented from pursuing his studies at college l)ut 
continued a course at home, acquiring an ardent taste for class- 
ical literature which he always cultivated. Mr. Cole was a writer 
of good prose and poetry. His productions have appeared in the 
Portland Transcript and various other papers and magazines and 
were widely read and admired. His rank is very high among 
the writers of his native state. 

He had long service as an official of the town, was five years 
on its board of selectmen, twenty-seven years town clerk and a 
member of its school board for many years. Notary Public and a 
Justice of the Peace. He was Postmaster for nearly a quarter 
of a century, holding through changes of administration without 
any eflt'orts made to displace him w'hich attests his efficiency and 
great popularity. Mr. Cole was long identified with Free 
Masonry, having been secretary of the local lodge, thirty-four 
years. He was a member of several historical societies, was 
much interested in local history and was one of the compilers of 
this work. He was especially instrumental in securing and pro- 
moting the Zadoc Long Free Library, the gift of Hon. John D. 
Long and was chairman of its board of trustees. He passed 
away after a long and wasting sickness, March 13, 1913, deeply 
lamented by all who knew him. The following is from Governor 
Long's tribute to his memory which appeared in the Oxford Dem- 
ocrat of March 18, 1913: 

"The death of Alfred Cole, though anticipated in view of his 
long illness, is a shock to this community and to the large circle 
of his friends and admirers outside of Buckfield. He was one 
of its most prominent citizens, beloved and respected, and for 
many years its postmaster. His literary culture was broad and 
pure. He had great facility in prose and poetry. Many of his 
verses have appeared in public print, always breathing an ex- 
quisite refinement of spirit and full of those touches of nature. 




Alfred Cole 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 211 

of the idealization of rural scenery and of the tender affiliations of 
our old New England life, which appeal to the heart." 

After mention of the great labor of years in collecting ma- 
terial for a history of Buckfield and the literary ability Mr. Cole 
had brought to the work, Mr. Long well says: "But his best 
memorial will be in the hearts of his friends." 



DEA. WHITNEY CUM MINGS. 

Dea. Whitney Cummings came from Sumner to Buckfield 
with his family in 1863 and resided here till his death. His 
parents were Oliver and Phebe (Churchill) Cummings. The 
father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as was also his 
grandfather, Capt. Oliver Cummings of Dunstable. 

Phebe Churchill was the daughter of Zachary Churchill of 
Sumner, who with several of his sons took part in the War for 
Independence. She was also a descendant of Mary Chilton, the 
first woman to land on Plymouth Rock from the Mayflower. 
The Cummings family is of Scotch descent and the name was 
anciently spelled in various ways but at the suggestion of Deacon 
Cummings, the present form has been generally adopted by all 
the Dunstable families. The American ancestor was Isaac who 
settled in Topsfield, Mass., in 1632. 

Oliver Cummings, Jr., born in Dunstable, Mass., July 12, 
1756, was one of the proprietors of Butterfield, now Sumner and 
Hartford. His first wife was Betsey Bailey, who w^as brought 
up in his father's family. He settled in West Butterfield, now 
Sumner. While making his clearing and building his log house, 
his wife and children boarded at Abijah Buck's in Buckfield, 
where he passed his Sundays. He kept an account of the days 
by cutting notches on a stick. Once he neglected to do so and 
w^orked all day Sunday, to the great disturbance of his con- 
science. He became a prosperous farmer. Fond of music, he 
played the bass viol and sang tenor in church. 

His wife dying, he married Feb. i, 1804, Phebe Churchill. 
By the first he had Sybil, who married Zadoc Bosworth and Oli- 
ver, who married Polly Churchill. By his second wife, he had 
three children, Betsey Bailey, who died young, Rev. Larnard, a 
Free Will Baptist preacher, noted for his droll, original and un- 
expected remarks, who married Nancy White, and Deacon Whit- 



212 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



ney, born Dec. i8, 1808. The latter, after attaining what educa 
tion the schools of his town afiforded, married Mary Hart Pren- 
tiss, daughter of Henry Prentiss of North Paris, and began life 
as a farmer on his father's place. She was a school teacher of 
note in the town, a great reader of good books and a writer of 
both prose and poetry for the newspapers. She took great in- 
terest in young people with ambition ; and her influence in the 
community was great and her memory will long be remembered 
and cherished. 

Deacon Cummings became interested in mills and he owned 
and operated several at West Sumner. For many years, he was 
postmaster at Jackson Village and served several times on the 
board of selectmen. He was for so long a period deacon of the 
Baptist church, that during the latter part of his life he was 
called by all who knew him Deacon Cummings. He died past 
his three score years and ten, March 4, 1881, respected by all. 
His wife died Feb. 18, 1879 and they are buried in the cemetery 
at North Paris. 

They had three children, Isabella, born April 15, 1834, mar- 
ried Joseph S. Ingraham, an apothecary at Bangor. He was a 
son of Rev. John S. Ingraham of Augusta. He died, leaving 
two daughters, Pauline, who lives with her mother at Brookfield, 
Mass., and Mary, who married Albert E. Davis of Brooklyn, N. 
Y. They have one daughter. The second child was named 
Prentiss and the third Mellen. The latter died young. 

HON. PRENTISS CUMMINGS. 

Prentiss Cummings, son of Dea. Whitney and Mary Hart 
(Prentiss) Cummings was born at West Sumner village, Sept. 
10, 1840. Wlien he had attained the age of fourteen he began 
working in the office of the Oxford Democrat on Paris Hill and 
here he remained for three years. He then began fitting for col- 
lege and attended the academy at Hebron and later he took a two 
years' course at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H. Then he en- 
tered Harvard University where he graduated with distinction in 
1864. The following year he was principal of the high school at 
Portland and began the study of the law in the office of Nathan 
Webb afterwards Judge of the United States District Court. 

In the autumn of 1865 he entered the Law School at Harvard 
and while pursuing his studies was unexpectedly to him appointed 



1 




Dea. Whitney Cummings 




Prentiss Cumminss 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 215 

tutor in Latin and had charge of the Sophomore class in that de- 
partment till 1870. He had previously graduated from the Law 
School and in the autumn of that year having been admitted to 
the Suffolk County Bar, he opened a law office in Boston. 

In 1874 he was appointed First Assistant U. S. District Attor- 
ney and for six years had almost exclusive charge of the law busi- 
ness of the Government in that important district. For three 
years he represented the great business ward of the city in the 
common council. In i884 and 1885 he was a member of the 
General Court. In the latter year, he was chosen president of 
the Cambridge Railroad and held that position till the company 
was consolidated with the other Boston street railways under the 
name of the West End Company, of which he became vice-presi- 
dent. This office he held for ten years when the road was leased 
to the Boston Elevated Railway and he became advisory counsel 
for the company. 

In 1880 he married Annie D. Snow of Cambridge, Mass. 
They have no children. His home is in Brookline. Mass. Mr. 
Cummings is trustee of the Public Librar>- and Savings Bank 
there and of the Mt. Auburn Cemeten,- Association and for many 
years chairman of the school board and president of many soci- 
eties and clubs. Of the many offices Mr. Cummings has held, 
he has never sought even one. 

;Mr. Cummings has a keen legal mind and would have made 
a good judge. He has a fine private library of choice VKjks. 
Since retiring from active business after having attained eminent 
success at the bar, he has made a specialty of Homeric literature 
and his translation of the Iliad has given him great repute as a 
scholar. Mr. Cummings has a summer home on Paris Hill near 
that of his sister. Mrs. Insfraham. 



REV. ELEANOR B. FORBES. 

Rev. Eleanor Bicknell Forbes, second daughter of Melvander 
and Julia ( Bicknell I Forbes and great-granddaughter of Jonah 
Forbes, the Revolutionary soldier and "Minute Man," was born 
at East Buckfield, Xov. 11, i8f3o. Her mother was the daughter 
of William Bicknell, Esq., of Hartford, who was one of the noted 
school teachers of his time and a large contributor to the press 
under the nom de plume of "Hartford." 



216 HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 

The father of Miss Forbes died in 1873 and the mother wish- 
ing to give her two daughters a good education, took them to 
]iebron, where they worked their way through the academy and 
grachiated with honors in 1878. Aliss Eleanor B. Forbes then 
entered Bates College where she also attained high rank in her 
studies. During her last year at that institution, her health and 
eye-sight failed. But she persevered. Her mother read all her 
lessons to her and 'by this means she was enabled to pass cred- 
itable examinations and kept her standing in her class. She 
graduated in 1882. For several years she was in very poor 
health. Of this period of her life she thus writes : 

"For several years after graduation I struggled with ill health, 
seeking relief at the Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, also from 
the old school physicians, but all in vain. At last a friend sug- 
gested the metaphysical treatment. Accordingly, I went again 
to Boston and placing myself under the care and instruction of 
Air. and Airs. Julius A. Dresser, began the work of coming back 
to life through the understanding of 'divine law.' From that 
time I liave been a student of the Xew Thought and it was this 
new revelation of the gospel of Jesus that awakened in my soul 
the desire to preacli the glad tidings of universal hope. Improv- 
ing every opportunity for reading, attending lectures, studying in 
the school of experience, I thus prepared myself for my present 
work." 

She was ordained as a Universalist minister at Gray, Alaine, 
Oct. 17, 1901, where she has since resided. 

Rev. Aliss Forbes is a rising preacher in the denomination. 
She is a pleasing and eloquent speaker and an earnest worker 
with full confidence in her mission. She is beloved by her people 
and has the respect of all classes. 



COLUMIUA CARnXKR. 

Columbia Ciardner was one of the most talented women ever 
born in the town of I^iuckfield. Her parents were Ira and Naomi 
(Gray) Gardner of that town. She was their oUlest child, born 
September 28, 1820. Her grandfather was Jonathan Gardner, 
Who served in the Revolution from Hingham, Alass., and after 
that contest settled in lUickfield. 




Rev. Eleanor B. Forbes 




« 



Columbia Gardner Gertrude Gardner 



HTSTORY OF BUCKFIELD 219 

Miss Gardner inherited her father's great strength of will and 
energy and her mother's amiable and lovely character. For her 
mother she ever showed the deepest feeling and the tenderest at- 
tachment. Her education was obtained in the grammar school in 
the village near where she was reared and at Kent's Hill (Me.) 
Seminary. She early developed a taste for study and literary 
culture. 

Soon after she was twenty years old she went to Baltimore, 
Maryland, where she was engaged in teaching for some two 
years. From there she went to Memphis, Tenn., going alone by 
stage to York, Penn., by canal boats and river steamers to Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, and through Kentucky and Tennessee to her des- 
tination. This journey was more of an undertaking at that period 
than a trip around the world to-day. She kept a journal in which 
are recorded many delightful incidents, interestingly related. At 
Cincinnati where she stopped for a few days with friends she 
heard the venerable ex- President John Quincy Adams deliver the 
address at the dedication of the observatory there which had been 
recently built. 

At Lexington, Ky., she met Henry Clay, then the Whig candi- 
date for the Presidency, and was so impressed with his intellectu- 
ality and the charm of his manners that she determined to write 
her father to vote for him, but after sleeping over the matter and 
considering the intense partisanship of her parent for the oppos- 
ing party and its candidate she concluded it would do no good and 
her letter was not sent. 

Before Miss Gardner reached the Tennessee line she had an 
adventure in a stagecoach where a robbery of some of the passen- 
gers who had attended a horse race and won large sums of money, 
had been planned. It was a very dark and stormy night and the 
coach had to pass down a very steep hill and cross an unsafe 
bridge over a raging torrent. This was the time and place for the 
highwaymen, but they must needs get all the persons out of the 
vehicle to walk over the dangerous part of the road to accomplish 
their purpose. One of the confederates was a passenger. The 
rain was falling in torrents, the horses became almost unmanage- 
able and the coach rocked and swayed back and forth in danger of 
being overturned. 

^liss Gardner strenuously refused to leave the carriage and 
tlie passengers liable to be robbed followed her example. Some, 



220 HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 

however, got out and went on foot. Lights were extinguished 
to prevent the robbers from making out the exact locaHty 
of the team on its way down the hill. Shots were fired but in the 
intense darkness and the great downpour of the rain no one was 
hurt. And, strange to relate, the carriage with its occupants 
went safely down the hill and over the bridge. Miss Gardner 
showed the greatest nerve and self-possession of any of the pass- 
engers, and they were profuse in their praises. Her action un- 
doubtedly prevented the robbery. 

While at Nashville, Tenn., she visited the Hermitage, the 
home of Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was then in very poor 
health. When she told him that she was going to Memphis to 
leach, that her home was in Maine and that her father was one of 
his stauncliest supporters, he praised her in the highest terms and 
w'hen she went away, placed his hands upon her head and blessed 
her. 

Miss Gardner taught in ^Memphis with great success for sev- 
eral years and in 1847 she went to New Orleans, La., as assistant 
teacher in a French and English seminary of which she soon be- 
came the head. There she formed a wide circle of literary 
friends among the cultured people of that section of the South, 
and was a frequent and esteemed contributor in both prose and 
poetry, to the leading journals and literary publications of the 
time. 

In 1850 she came back to her Northern home, but soon re- 
turned to New Orleans. Some five years later her health began 
to fail and in spite of all efforts towards a restoration, she died 
on the 1 6th day of June, 1856, at Mt. Vernon, Alabama, while on 
a visit to a friend, and was buried there. Though greatly at- 
tached to the Southland and her many devoted friends anil ac- 
quaintances there, she had expressed in one of her poems the wish 
to be buried in the land the Pilgrims founded. 

Her writings attracted wide attention and favorable comment 
among literary people. She was a lady of attractive bearing, 
cliarming manners, well-informed upon the topics of the day and 
widely read in the classics and general literature. She was thus 
a general favorite in whatever society she happened to be. 



HISTORY OF BL^CKFIELD 221 

GERTRUDIi GARD.XKR. 

Miss Gertrude Gardner is the daughter of Oscar F. and Jqu- 
nette ( Thomes ) Gardner and niece of the gifted Miss Cohunbia 
Gardner. Her mother was the daughter of a UniversaHst 
preacher and a very intelligent and most estimable lady. Her 
father was often in town office and was highly respected by all 
who knew him. 

She was born in Buckfield, May i8, 1875, nearly a month after 
her father's death. Till she was old enough to take care of her- 
self, she lived in the family of her uncle, Samuel Thomes, who 
had married her father's sister, Brittania Gardner. 

Miss Gardner obtained her education in the Buckfield village 
schools and began teaching at the age of sixteen. She soon se- 
cured a position in the Norway village schools which she has held 
to the present time (1915.) She has kept fully up-to-date in her 
methods of instruction, is a strict disciplinarian, and is one of the 
very best teachers in her grade in ]\Iaine. 

There is no higher or more honorable calling than that of a 
teacher of youth and from her long period of service, the hun- 
dreds of her pupils, the foundation of whose character and future 
usefulness has been so largely due to right principles inculcated 
and the proper instruction given by her, must ever remember her 
with gratitude. 

Aliss Gardner comes of good Revolutionary and Puritan New 
England stock on both sides and both family lines are character- 
ized by deep moral conviction, great firmness of purpose, fine in- 
tellectuality and a very strong love of home and country, and she 
has inherited a full share of all these qualities. 

HOX. J. PRESTON HUTCItlNSON. 

[ames Preston Hutchinson, eldest child of John Colby and 
Emeline E. (Doe) Hutchinson was born in the southeastern part 
of Buckfield, Jan. 6, 1848. He was educated in the district 
schools and at Hebron Academy and at sixteen began teaching 
school, which he followed for several years with marked success. 
His parents having moved into Hebron, the year he attained his 
majority he was chosen a member of the school board and later 
superintendent of schools and was re-elected. In 1872 he went 
to Auburn, remaining there four years, then to Portland where 



222 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

he engaged in the milk business, in which he was very successful 
and accumulated a handsome property. In 1887 he sold out and 
traveled for a year in the West, spending the winter in California. 
Returning to Auburn in 1888, where he resided till his death, he 
purchased in June of that year a part interest in the real estate 
business of Lewis O'Brion. After five years, Mr. O'Brion's 
health being poor, he sold his interest to D. W. Verrill, from 
which time the management of the business fell upon Mr. 
Hutchinson. It steadily increased till the firm of J. P. Hutchin- 
son & Co. became one of the largest and most reliable dealers 
in real estate in Maine. 

Mr. Hutchinson had no bad habits, was moral and upright, 
square in his dealings and was always interested and identified 
with all movements for the public good. Such a man is sure of 
public preferment. While in Portland he was a member of the 
city government. In 1892 he was elected as an alderman in Au- 
burn from his ward and in 1894 was chosen as representative to 
the Legislature and was re-elected. He was a member of Gov. 
Wm. T. Haines' Council, at the time of his death, Nov. 24, 1914. 
He was president of the Mechanics Savings Bank, a director 
of the National Shoe & Leather Bank, of the Central Maine Gen- 
eral Hospital and also a director in several other corporations. 
For four years he was a member of the Public Works Commis- 
sion, a member of the Board of Trade, Secretary of the x\uburn 
Loan Association and president of the Androscoggin Board of 
Underwriters. 

Mr. Hutchinson was prominent in several secret societies. 
In Masonic circles he held high position. He had been master 
of his lodge, commander of Lewiston Commandery, K. T., 
grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Maine, and 
Kora Temple representative to the Imperial Council in 1907 held 
at Los Angeles, California. 

In politics Mr. Hutchinson was a republican and firmly be- 
lieved in the cardinal principles of his party. In religion he was 
a Universalist. For many years he was a trustee of the Auburn 
Universalist church and superintendent of the Sunday School. 
He married, March 4, 1873, Miss IMaria Loring. Their children 
were: Lucy Augusta, born April 30, 1874; Ruth, born Dec. 15, 
1879, died June 8, 1880, and Mina Emeline, born Dec. 25, 1883. 

Mrs. Hutchinson died March 19, 1905 and Mr. Hutchinson 
married for his second wife, Mrs. Abbie Morse Southard of 




J. Preston Hutchinson 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 225 

Lewiston. Oct. 30, 1909. She was born May 6, 1854. Bv her 
first husband she had two children, Colly, who married Dr. A. 
]\I. Andrews of Gray and Frank Elwyn Southard, Esq., a prac- 
ticing attorney of Augusta. 



CAPT. JAMES JEWETT. 

James Jewett was the son of James, Jr., and Lucy (Farley) 
Jewett of Hcllis, X. H., where he was born Sept. 13, 1789. He 
learned the trade of cabinet maker in Boston and came to Port- 
land to settle in business ; but at that time the business of the 
cities had been seriously disturbed by the war of 1812 and while 
prospecting for a more promising location, he was attracted to 
Buckfield, where he settled and built up one of the most im- 
portant industries of the town. His first shop stood on the 
riverside near the present home of Emily A. Shaw. This was 
destroyed by fire Jan. 23, 1834, and he at once moved into the 
Farwell store, ever since known as the Capt. Jewett Cabinet 
Shop, in which he remained during the remainder of his business 
years. He was a skilled wood-worker, an energetic business 
man and probably employed more workmen than any other per- 
son in the village. His furniture found its way into nearly every 
home in Buckfield and adjoining towns and now remains as heir- 
looms in the homes of the older families. He was prosperous and 
retired from business somewhat early in life, a man of wealth for 
his times, though he later, in common with many others, suffered 
heavy losses through investinents in the railroad. He was a pop- 
ular officer in the militia and highly respected as a citizen. He 
married. May 5, 1824, N'esta, daughter of John Loring, Esq. He 
died ^lay 10, 1863. Children: John Loring, born May 28, 
1825 ; married Eliza Jacobs of Camden. lie was bred to mercan- 
tile life with his uncle, Lucius Loring, and, on attaining his ma- 
jority, he went into business in partnership with John S. Ricker 
of Turner in South Thomaston and later in Bangor, doing a large 
and prosperous business as wholesale and retail grocers ; but they 
lost their accumulations in the lumber business and the firm was 
dissolved. ^Ir. Jewett remained in business there and afterwards 
became a commission merchant in flour in New York and Milwau- 
kee. While on a visit to Buckfield he died of pneumonia, ^Tay 30, 
1870. He had two daughters, who died young anr! one son, Ralph 



226 HISTORY OF BUCKFIRLD 

Loringi, now a resident of Cripple Creek, Colorado. Ralph Cum- 
mings Jewett, born JNIarch ii, 1827; married Emma A., daughter 
of Dea. Benjamin Emery. Like his elder brother he was bred to 
trade with Lucius Loring. with whom he remained about ten years 
as clerk and partner. He then became associated with his brother, 
Loring, in Bangor and Xew York. He returned to Buckfiekl to 
reside with and care for his aged wiclowed mother, and engaged 
in the wholesale grain and ilour business. He was also a general 
broker in stocks and bonds. He afterwards went to Auburn and 
became a partner in the firm of O.-car Llolway & Co. He died 
in that city and was buried in his native town. Air. Jewett was 
a careful, methodical man of affairs, of sound business judgment 
and upright character. 

James Farley Jewett. born Dec. -1, 1837, was educated at Gould 
and Hebron Academies and at the age of sixteen years became a 
clerk in the large wholesale dry goods house of Wellington & 
Grose, later Wellington Brothers of Boston. He was salesman 
many years, making frequent and extended commercial trips for 
this firm of which he became a member. He formed a large ac- 
quaintance and was popular and successful in business. He mar- 
ried in 1862, Sarah W.. daughter of Dea. Benjamin Emerv, and 
resided in JNIalden, Alass.. wliere she tlied. He subsequently en- 
gaged in the wool business in Auburn, and iriany years retained 
his ancestral home in Buckfield as a stock farm and place of sum- 
mer visitation. Ho is now livino" in retirement in his native town. 



ALPHEUS AUGUTUS KEEN. 

Alpheus Augustus Keen, the son of Simeon Keen and Sarah 
Adams (Elwell) Keen, was born in Buckfield on his father's farm 
on the line between Buckfield and Hartford on Sept. 26, 1824. 
He attended the "Line"" District Scliool. then as now attended by 
scholars from both towns. When not at school he worked on his 
father's farm and was at once a studious and an industrious boy. 
Praise from some observer for a recitation in mathematics was the 
first impulse to ambition for a college education. He went to the 
High School in Buckfield in 1841. walking ihe tb.ree miles dis- 
tance daily back and forth. His mother encouraged his going to 
college and his father did not oppose it, but felt hardly able to 
meet the expense. The boy said that he would ask for only Sioo 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 227 

a year and would give his note for the amount and pay it as soon 
as possible after graduating. This he did, the amount paid back 
being $375. He earned money during his college course by teach- 
ing, as he had also by teaching and by manual labor earned money 
at the preparatory schools where he fitted for college, especially at 
i')ri(lgton Academy and at North Yarmouth. 

He entered Harvard College in August, 1845, ^^^ graduated 
there in July, 1849. In June before graduating he had charge 
of the high school in ^Marblehead, Mass., where he remained 
till 1854 when he went \\'est to take charge of Pomeroy 
Academy, Pomeroy, Ohio. While there, in August, 1857, he was 
chosen Professor of Latin and Greek in Tufts College and he re- 
turned to Massachusetts. In 1859, Mathematics was assigned to 
him in place of Greek. Later, he had the department of Latin 
Literature and Roman History. In 1862 he was made Librarian. 

It was a notable and honored life and career, made especially 
interesting and exemplary by his early struggles and his steady 
growth in usefulness and influence as a scholar and teacher. 
While still in the full tide of his educational activities at Tufts he 
died in the fall of 1864, deeply lamented. In the words of the 
resolutions on his death, adopted by the trustees of the college he 
was "an accomplished teacher and devoted friend, a consistent 
Christian believer and self-sacrificing laborer and in the cause of 
liberal learning an earnest and faithful servant."' 

His denominational relations were with the L'niversalist 
church. His domestic life was a charm. Xo son of Buckfield 
merits more honored mention. He noAV lies in the little burying 
ground near his father's farm and only this last summer of 1914, 
his devoted wife was laid there by his side, by their son, Alpheus 
A., who is a resident of Albuquerque, New ^Mexico. 



ZADOC LOXG. 

By John D. Long 

Zadoc Long was born in Middleboro, Mass., July 28, 1800. 
He was descended from the Pilgrim stock of 1620, though his sur- 
name came from a grandfather. ^Miles I-ong, who came from 
North Carolina to Plymouth, Massachusetts, and there mar- 
ried a descendant of Thomas Clark, who came to Plymouth in 



228 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

the Ann in 1623. On the maternal side, Zadoc was descended 
from three of the Mayflower Pilgrims, Bradford, Brewster, and 
Warren. 

Zadoc's father, Thomas Long, a native of Plymouth, was often 
in summer time employed on board fishing vessels, then lived on a 
farm in Middleboro and also made shoes. In 1806 the family 
moved to Buckfield, going by sloop to Salem and thence overland 
by team to Buckfield. Zadoc often described the arrival at the 
foot of North Hill, up which he and his brother Tom ran, stop- 
ping now and then to pick the thistles from their bare feet. At 
the top were the house and farm now owned by his son, John D. 
Long. Here Zadoc, until he was fourteen, helped his father on 
the farm. The hardships of that pioneer time were severe, the 
living of the large family poor and simple, the firewood often 
taken in the morning from the snow that had covered it over- 
night. 

At fourteen the boy broke down with a running sore on his 
leg, a part of the bone of which was removed. At fifteen he at- 
tempted to learn shoemaking and turned his leisvtre to study. He 
was soon convinced of the importance, whatever a man's position 
in life, of an education. He went to a woman's school in the sum- 
mer and to Hebron Academy for a few weeks in the fall. His 
board there was paid in shoemaking. Afterwards, in 1850, he 
wrote a rhyming letter to his son John, then at that Academy, 
describing his own very difi:'erent experience there : — 

"How I got up before 'twas light 
And snufFed my candle late at night, 
And toiled and studied to surpass 
The smartest scholar in my class ; 
Wrote composition like a sage, 
And spoke my pieces on the stage ; 
Five hundred lines in Virgil read 
In one day on a wager laid. 
How I was poor and lame and lean, 
Wore homespun clothes of bottle green, 
Your grandpa's wedding trousers lined, 
Turned inside out and patched behind, 
My brother Tom's waistcoat of blue 
Three summers after it was new, 
And how I traveled to recite 
A mile at morning and at night. 
Because I could not then afford 
To pay the price of nearer board, 
Or people nearer did not choose 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 229 

To take their pay in making shoes. 
This is not poetry, but better, 
The simple truth, John, every letter, 
Yet I was counted bright, you see, John, 
When I attended school at Hebron." 

In his diary he says: "Suinmer of 1816 attended Buckfield 
Grammar School imder the tuition of Charles Mongride. Board- 
ed with Henry Farwell, whom 1 have reason to remember with 
gratitude for his assistance in my education. That winter taught 
school in the district where my father lived — a great undertaking 
for one in my circumstances, a mere boy obliged to walk on my 
lame leg. Succeeded however, and my school was commended 
by the committee as the best in town. Summer of 181 7 unable to 
do anything. Attended school at Hebron a few wrecks. Kept a 
private school in the fall at Buckfield. Summer and fall of 1818 
instructed a private school in Buckfield six months, and in the 
winter taught school in the west part of the town. Had now 
nearly fitted myself to enter college and was ambitious to go, but 
sickness and poverty were insurmountable obstacles. Spring of 
1819 let myself clerk in Stephen Phelps' store at Buckfield till I 
should be twenty-one years old at something more than $100 a 
year. About three months before the end of my term was at- 
tacked with another bone sore upon the leg which had till then 
been .sound. Was carried to my father's and confined five months 
before any hope was had of my recovery. Had several surgical 
operations. The pain was excruciating and I was reduced to a 
living skeleton. I expected I should die and prepared to take 
leave of the world. The evidence of its being w-ell w-ith me after 
death was not so clear and satisfactory as I desired it to be. I 
lacked faith in the immortality of the soul. 1 wanted to raise the 
curtain betw^een time and eternity that I might see more clearly 
the things beyond this life. This sickness was a sore disappoint- 
ment to me. I had arrived at that age when life's prospects are 
brightest. By rigid economy had saved from my earnings about 
$200. I was dreaming of honors and pleasures to come when the 
hand of affliction waked me to the vanity of all earthly hopes. 
While in the store I devoted some leisure time to study and recited 
lessons in Greek to Mr. Moses Emery, preceptor of Buckfield 
Academy. There I first saw and became acquainted with Julia T. 
Davis, who attended school at Buckfield. She was then about 
thirteen vears old." 



230 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

He was married to her August 31, 1824, at New Gloucester, 
which was her home. She was a direct descendant of Dolor 
Davis, who came from Kent, England, in 1634. He was the an- 
cestor of the numerous New England Davis family, among whom 
have been three governors of Massachusetts ; and his wife, ■Mar- 
garet, was a sister of ]\Iajor Simon Willard, famous in colonial 
history. The correspondence of Zadoc with hi? sweetheart before 
marriage is copied in his journal and is marked by refined senti- 
ment, but is in the formal style of that time. Even then he had 
formed the habit of scholarly writing both in prose and poetry. 

^Meantime, to quote again from his journal, "in the fall of 1821 
recovered my health in some measure. It required all the prop- 
erty I possessed to defray the expenses of my sickness. Infirm 
and moneyless, my chance in the world was not very fortunate, 
but my ambition was good. Was able to take charge of a school 
in the winter. In the spring of 1822 taught the district school. 
April, 1822, went into S. F. Brown's office with a view of study- 
ing law. Read Blackstone and quit it. September, 1822, com- 
menced trading in Buckfield in company with Nathan Atwood on 
capital of my own of $58. Found it ditTicult to buy goods on 
credit. The traders in the village would not recommend me on 
account of our inexperience. September 4, 1823, have dissolved 
partnership with Nathan Atwood, arranging to trade in company 
with Lucius Loring under the firm of Long & Loring. Our busi- 
ness has been more favorable than we expected. We have saved 
from it about $400 for each. February 6, 1825, dissolved part- 
nership with Lucius Loring, having taken the whole concern, 
store, potash, goods, debts and credits, upon my own shoulders." 

From this time till 1838 he was engaged in trade in Buckfield, 
and then retired from active business. lie had acquired a prop- 
erty of some $16,000. He lived immediately after his marriage 
in a house, afterward Sydenham Brigham's tavern, which stood 
where Benjamin Spaulding's store now stands, then in the house 
next east on the Turner road, and in August, 1834, he bought and 
repaired the old Dominicus Record homestead, which is to-day oc- 
cupied as a tavern, called Hotel Long, and for which with nine or 
ten acres of land he paid Siooo. 

He had four surviving children, two daughters and then two 
sons. He was devotedly attached to Buckfield, and never failed 
to sound its praises. He had a sincere love of nature and was 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 231 

devoted to his garden, his books, his correspondence and especial- 
1\' his diary which consists of twelve large folio volumes, written 
in his peculiarly fair, legible hand and which is a true and interest- 
ing transcript of the doings and life of a country village in Maine 
in the first two-thirds of the last century. He was deeply inter- 
ested in the maintenance of good schools, giving each of h's chil- 
dren the best education the time afiforded. He helped support 
religious worship, being himself a liberal I'n'tarian. 

He was a zealous Whig in political convictions, although that 
party was in a great minority in the Stale and especially in the 
town. To the village Lyceum and to the Portland newspapers 
he contributed articles en political and other subjects and many 
verses, some of which appear in the town history. He made 
speeches at Whig conventions and was nominated for Congress in 
1838, but his competitor, \'irgil D. Parris, a native of Huckfield 
and the democratic candidate, was elected. 

In 1840, vvhen the whole State went with a rush for Harrison 
for President. Mr. Long was elected a presidential elector. He 
was for many years a justice of the peace, acting as a trial jus- 
tice, and showed judicial quality in that office. 

In person he was tall and spare with fine cut features and a 
gentle manner. Llis elevating influence attached to him those 
who met hiiu and made a strong impression on many young men 
who in after years remembered him with sincere respect. Espe- 
pecially he impressed upon his children, by conversation and by 
his copious letters, the fruits of his own life experience and 
reading. 

He was recognized as one of the most cultivated men in the 
State, and though not accustomed to public speaking had rare 
facility in conversation and a fine sense of humor, with great 
aptness for anecdote. He was fond of literature, and accumu- 
lated the largest library in town, making special purchases for his 
children in order to give them a good range of reading. It is 
especially fitting that the free public library in Buckfield. erected 
by h-s son in 1890, should bear the name of Zadoc Long engraved 
on its front and stand as a monument to his memory. 

He was a conservative in literature as in politics. His favor- 
ite authors were Channing and Scott and Cooper, whose novels 
he read, but he never could join in the then rage for Dickens. 
He was a devoted follower of Webster and Clay, regarded the 



232 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

I-'ederal Constitution and Union as sacred, and b.acl in his ad- 
vanced years become so imbued with the spirit of preserving tlieir 
integrity that he did not accept, as he would have done if younger, 
the splendid uprising of the Civil War with its risk of bringing 
both Constitution and Union to dissolution. Hence he remained 
throughout that period not quite in step with the radical and more 
progressive political spirit of the day. His journal at the time of 
the defeat of Henry Clay for the presidency is a despairing 
lament over what then seemed to him and many others the ap- 
proaching downfall of our democratic system. Happily the 
world moves on its onward and upward course in spite of con- 
vulsions that now and then make the philosopher anxious but 
soon give place again to order and progress. 

Mr. Long's home in the center of the village, sliaded by great 
elms and maples, most of which he had planted, and bordering on 
his garden and on the beautiful field which he loved and which 
had not yet been cut in twain by the unsightly railroad embank- 
ment, was the welcome resort of neighbors and friends.. It was 
an idyllic home. Some can yet recall the great spice apple tree 
near it — now gone like himself — under which in summer days he 
sat with a son or a neighbor or guest keeping him company, and 
near which in winter lay twenty cords of hard wood waiting to 
be cut and fitted for the fire and then piled by his hand neatly in 
the neighboring shed, and the chips gathered for kindling. Ah, 
happy days ! 

His children, Julia Davis, Persis Seaver, Zadoc Junior, and 
John Davis, all left the paternal nest, the two daughters marrying 
and settling in Massachusetts, the two sons both seeking their for- 
tune in that State. His beloved wife died September 19, 1869. 
Then the fire on the old family hearth went out, and in his old 
age, his heart breaking with all its sad changes, he also went back 
to the State of his nativity, living a year with his son John in 
Hingham, Mass., and then with his daughter, Mrs. Nelson D. 
White, in Winchendon, Mass., till he died on February 3, 1873. 
He lies with his wife and his son Zadoc in the family lot in the 
Buckfield village burying ground. 




s 
o 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 235 

HON. JOHN DAVIS LONG 

By Mrs. Mary E. Robbins. 

John Davis Long, son of Zadoc Long and Julia Temple Davis, 
was born Oct. 27, 1838. He came of a line of Massachusetts 
ancestry which extends back to the "Alaytlower" and the "Ann." 

On his father's side, Mr. Long hails from Plymouth. His 
grandfather was a descendant of the Pilgrim Thomas Clark, who 
came over in the "Ann" in 1623, and his grandmother, Bathsheba 
Churchill's forbears were seven iNlayllower passengers, the Brad- 
fords, Brewsters, Chiltons and Warrens. His mother's progeni- 
tor, Dolar Davis, came with the emigration of 1634 and settled 
first in Cambridge and died m Barnstable. His wife was Mar- 
gery Willard, the sister of Major Simon Willard of Concord, 
Mass. 

From the strong stock which first occupied Massachusetts 
went forth into the Province of Maine a class of especially vig- 
orous settlers, whose descendants still return from time to time 
to the parent state, to administer its affairs and lead in its councils, 
with the freshness and force characteristic of the sturdy men of 
the Pine Tree State. Among these pioneers went in 1806, sail- 
ing by packet from Plymouth to Salem and thence overland in a 
pioneer's wagon, Thomas Long, the grandfather of John D. 
Long. 

Zadoc Long, the latter's father, was then six years old, and 
often told him of the mile-long hill at their journey's end which 
they had to climb to reach the half-finished house and half- 
cleared farm which \vas to be their future home in Buckfield, 
Maine. The other men who settled Oxford county were a sturdy 
set, whose descendants are well-known to fame. They were 
poor, as everybody was poor in those parts, but shrewd, intelli- 
gent, thinking men. who read books and talked politics, kept alert 
minds, and gave their children the best education going. 

.\mong these sturdy people, in a hill country, which always 
develops individuality, and in an atmosphere of home cultivation 
( for Zadoc Long was a reading man and a writer of verse), little 
John grew up. In one of his speeches he feelingly alludes to the 
impression, never to be effaced, of snowy peaks, cool woods, and 
picturesque roads over hills and through valleys, ujjon his childish 
minfl. Alludinsr to Oxford countv he savs : 



236 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

"Enlarging and educating as were its physical influences. 1 
l)ay my tribute still more gratefully to the living influence of its 
people .... the solid democracy of a country such as Oxford 
county typifies — absolutely meeting the ideal of a free and equal 
people, and ignorant of such a thing as caste or class. Add to 
such a democracy the elements of the education of the common 
schools, the unfettered exercise of religious freedom, the popular 
political discussion of the street corner, tlie store, and the hay- 
field, the frequent vacancies of leisure, the common knowledge of 
men and things, the splendid ingrained inheritance of English 
common law ripened into the maxims, habits, converse and sys- 
tem of the people, the absence on the one hand of great accumula- 
tions of wealth, and on the other of any consciousness of the 
deprivations of extreme poverty, and especially that unconscious 
unreserve and inartificiality of intercourse which made the hewer 
of stone the free and easy, if not superior disputant as well as 
companion of the owner of the field — add all these, and you have 
an atmosphere of education out of which no boy could emerge 
and not have a fitting future life such as the metropolis with its 
schools, the university with its colleges, could not give, a homely 
famliarity with the popular mind, an inbred sympathy with the 
masses, not artificial nor assume'd, but a part of the character it- 
self, and a 'helpful agency in public service, and in useful conduct 
in life. Its fruits you see to-day, and for years have seen, in the 
elements which from rural counties like Oxford have gone into 
the busy avenues of our national life, and given enterprise, 
growth, success to the business, the govcrnnient, the literature, 
and the progress of the country." 

This paragraph is quoted at length as the keynote of that pop- 
ularity, arising from his true humanity, which has made the 
career of the able ex-Secretary of the Navy a long progress from 
one honor to another. A life so wise, serene, and successful af- 
fords little light and shadow for writing a dramatic story full of 
sharp and interesting contrasts ; but it is worth studying as a 
product of the truest Americanism, and we can see, though Buck- 
field was too small to long hold a man of his caliber, how his 
roots are there, how his heart ever fondly returns thither, while 
to it his happiest hours of leisure are still devoted on the old 
home farm. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 237 

One of ~Mv. Long's classmates at Hebron Academy, where he 
prepared for college, alluding to his early proficiency in com- 
position and declamation, says : 

"We looked upon Johnny Long as if he were Daniel Webster 
himself." This must have been when he was quite a boy, for he 
entered Harvard at fourteen. 

The youth was really too young to reap the advantages of 
college life, but he was a good student, with a fine memory and 
unusual abilities, so that though almost the youngest member in 
his class, being only eighteen when he was graduated in 1857, he 
stood second in it in the senior year and fourth for the whole 
course, and was assigned a commencement part. 

He narrates his experiences in a way which must find an echo 
in the heart of many a solitary country boy struggling far from 
home for an education. 

"I got no lift from college at all. Nobody noticed me. I had 
the knack of getting lessons easily. I was imder age and out of 
sight.'' Again, in a speech, he tells how he walked from Boston 
to Cambridge, to take his entrance examinations, so that every 
inch of ]\Iain street is "blistered into his memory" and later, when 
his father left him there "sat crying for sheer homesickness on 
the western steps of Gore Hall,'' a record which may be a con- 
solation to some of the university's future LL. D.'s, now heart- 
sick from neglect and solitude in that cosmos. 

He did not live in the college except in his senior year, and so 
did not get the benefit of its social life, but trudged back and 
forth four miles a day to his lodgings, working hard no doubt, 
and learning at least the valuable lessons of self-reliance and 
fortitude. 

After leaving college he taught for tvv'o years at Westford 
Academy, which he alludes to as "an outburst into a larger life." 
and then settled down to the study of the law in the office of Mr. 
Sydney Bartlett, one of the famous lawyers of Boston. This 
contact he considered wasted, for his chief never spoke to him but 
once on any legal subject. "From him," he says, "I got nothing. 
I was in his office nearly a year, reading a book, and now and 
then copying a paper, but never talked with him five minutes. He 
took no interest in me and was otherwise occupied." 

Afterwards the youth attended the Harvard Law School for a 
while, taught for a few months in the Boston Latin School, and 



238 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

was finally admitted to the Suffolk bar. and beg-an the practice of 
the law in 1862 in Buckfield, ]\Iaine. 

P'ond as Mr. Long had ever been of the simple neighborhood 
in which his boyhood was spent, it was '"a pent-up Utica" for 
mental powers like his, and very soon we find him drifting back 
to Boston, into the office of Mr. Stillman B. Allen, with whom he 
formed a partnership in 1867, in which they were afterwards 
jomed by ]\Ir. Alfred Hemenway, who had been a neighbor and 
warm friend of Mr. Long from the beginning of the latter's life 
in Boston. 

These years were not conscious periods of development for 
tlie young lawyer, but were undoubtedly spent in gaining knowl- 
edge of men and life and books, of which he was the eager and 
industrious reader, which was to be of service to him in his after 
career. 

Later, he looked upon them as drifting, purposeless years, 
when he was without ambition, or any particular object except 
that of getting some kind of foothold so as to earn a living. 

He worked at his profession when he got a chance, and in his 
leisure moments he wrote poetry by the cart load, and he even 
composed a play for Maggie ^Mitchell, then a popular actress, 
which was given several times at the Boston Theater. When he 
was afterwards speaker he published a well-known translation of 
Mrgil's Aeneid in blank verse. 

Bv an accident he drifted to Hingham, one of the earliest set- 
tlements on the south shore of Massachusetts bay, where a pleas- 
ant boarding place was offered for the summer. The quaint, 
picturesque old town suited him, and he chose it as his home. 
Born among mountains he had always dreamed of living by the 
blue waters, and as he walked to and from the steamboat land- 
ing, he often crossed the lot on which his dwelling now stands, 
and thought of it as one he would like to o\\n. and occupy with 
his parents. His mother died before that dream came true, but 
when in 1870 he married Miss Mary Wootiward Glover, daughter 
of George S. and Helen ^L (Paul) Glover, he bought it and built 
his house upon it. and there his two daughters, Margaret and 
Helen, passed their childhood. In 1882. Mrs. Long died in 
Boston. 

To his life in a country town ^ir. Long" owes his political 
preferment. Undoubtedly his ability would have won him a 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 239 

position as a lawyer in Boston, had he settled there ; bnt as a 
recognized force in a small community he came very soon to the 
top. 

His father was always an old-fashioned Whig, but the great 
tide of i860 swept the son into the republican party, and he cast 
his vote in that momentous election, for Isarel Washburn, its can- 
didate for governor of ]\Ia"-ne, and spoke for Lincoln on the 
stump. Before the November election he went to Boston, and 
there, having no vote, he lost the opportunity which he desired to 
vote for Abraham Lincoln for President. After that he seems to 
liave had for a time no special interest in politics, and wdien his 
abilities first brought him to the attention of the Hingham people 
as a possible candidate for the Legislature, he was nominated in 
1871 without previous notice to him by a deniocratic caucus, but 
in his reply to this action he wrote his desire to be regarded as 

".Vn independent candidate, free to do my duty in the nii- 
probable event of my election, according to the best of my own 
judgment and intelligence, unpledged and unbiased, and consid- 
ered as the representative, not of party issues, but of the general 
interests of this district and of the Commonwealth." 

This was not enough for Hingham, however, and he was de- 
feated. In 1872 he shared the dissatisfaction of Sumner and 
other republicans with Grant, and voted for Horace Greeley. In 
the fall of 1874 he was nominated and elected by the republicans 
and represented, them in the General Court for four years. In 
the Legislature his readiness in debate, his geniality, and his 
fairness of mind were promptly recognized. The Speaker often 
called him to the chair, and in 1876 he was elected to occup\- it, 
and remained for three years Speaker of the Massachusetts 
House of Representatives. 

In 1878 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, and 
upon the retirement of Governor Talbot, the following year, he 
was given the first place on the ticket. He was Governor of 
Massachusetts in 1880, 1881 and 1882, and distinguished him- 
self as an arlministrator, and by the excellence of his appoint- 
ments. His ofiicial public speeches were admirable for appro- 
])riateness aufl elof|uence. 

^fany vacancies in the courts occurred during his terms of 
office, and so rapid were the changes on the supreme bench., that 
at one time every judge there held his commission from him, in- 



240 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

eluding such distinguished men as Chief Justice Morton, Judges 
Devens, William and Charles Allen, Field, Holmes, Colburn, etc. 
Five of the eleven judges of the superior court also held their 
commissions from him. 

His choice of men for important positions has always been 
marked by the clear insight and sound judgment for which he is 
distinguished. Those who know him best say that his intuitive 
perception of character is never at fault. His decisions are swift 
and sure, and always justified by results. 

He made a steady and efficient chief magistrate, and one most 
popular with the people. His clear, prompt habits of mind, his 
perfect coolness, and his absolute faithfulness in the performance 
of every function, made executive duty easy for him, and as an 
administrator he has always excelled. His dignified and cordial 
manners, his memory of names and faces, combined with the 
happy humor and eloquence which made his official speeches 
models of their kind, endeared him to every one, and then, as 
now, he was always warmly and eagerly welcomed as a brilliant 
figure in any gathering. 

At the close of his third term, Mr. Long was elected to the 
Forty-Eighth and afterwards to the Forty-Ninth and Fiftieth 
Congresses of the United States, distinguishing himself in these 
by attention to legislative business and by certain noticeable 
speeches: On the Whisky Tax (March 25, 1884), on Interstate 
Commerce (December 3, 1884), on Silver Coinage (March 2^, 
1886), and on the French Spoliation Claims (August 4, 1888), 
all of which were logical, well-reasoned discourses of weight and 
interest. 

Legislative duty proved, however, not altogether to his taste. 
He chafed at being everybody's errand 'boy, and the issues of that 
time did not call especially for his gifts of oratory, while his ad- 
ministrative ability was largely thrown away. 

The necessity of looking after his private interests induced 
him to decline a re-nomination and he returned to his law practice 
in Boston at the close of third term in Congress. In 1886 he had 
made a second marriage with oNIiss Agnes Peirce, daughter of 
Rev. Joseph D. Peirce of North Attleboro, Mass., and his son, 
Peirce, was born in that town December 29, 1887. 

As a jury lawyer Air. Long was called one of the foremost in 
the state. His knowledge of the law, founded on long, intelli- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 241 

gent study, became instinctive rather than the result of memory. 
He knew what the law ought to be. and announced it fearlessly, 
while the junior counsel looked up the authorities. His simple, 
direct statements, his genial humor, carried juries with him and 
insured a favorable verdict. 

In the law he was held in high esteem on account of his apti- 
tude for business, his quick insight, and rapid methods, and also 
for an unusual ability to adjust cases by the fairness of mind 
which enabled him to see both sides, and bring opponents to an 
understanding. He was senior counsel for the defendant in the 
famous Trefethen murder case and after two long trials secured 
an acquittal. His elaborate argument was published with the 
proceedings by the Commonwealth. For some years he was a 
member of the State House Construction Committee, and was 
influential in obtaining the open space about the building so es- 
sential to its effect. 

It was in February, 1897, after he had taken a much-needed 
rest in 1896 from the arduous duties of his profession, that 
President-elect McKinley between whom and him existed a 
warm friendship that ripened till the former's tragic death into 
the closest relations, made him the unlooked-for ofifer of a seat 
in his cabinet, with a choice between several offices. The sug- 
gestion was such a surprise to Mr. Long that there was some de- 
lay in his acceptance, but he finally selected the Navy, thinking 
that under its able chiefs of department its perfection of routine 
was such as to make the position of Secretary of the Navy com- 
paratively easy in a time of profound peace such as was then 
enjoyed. 

His nomination was sent to the Senate by the President and 
on March 5, 1897, 't was promptly confirmed, but to his surprise, 
after a short time, the post of Secretary of the Navy became one 
of unexpected importance. After a few months of enjoyment of 
the otiiiiii cum dignitatc of the position, during which he had an 
opportunity to become familiar with the duties of his office, and 
a chance to learn to know the qualities of his subordinates, the 
outbreak of the war with Spain made the office of the Secretary 
of the Navy, contrary to all expectations, one of the most re- 
sponsible positions in the United States. 

To this surprising emergency Mr. Long brought the calm 
good judgment and ready perception which have never failed 



24'2 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

him in his achninistrative career. Recognizing the need of tech- 
nical counsel, he promptly called ahont him the most experienced 
naval men and organized them into a board of strategy. The 
purpose of this toard was to devine and forestall the possible 
plans of the enemy, and to devise a plan of campaign to which 
the best skill in tlie profession should contribute advice and 
knowledge. 

The results of this well considereil scheirc promptlv testified 
to its value. The success of Dewey in .Manila r>ay speedily 
brought about a respectful consideration from those nations of 
the old world wliich in the beginning were most hostile in their 
attitude toward> the L'nite.l States. 

The forethought of the Secretary of the Xavy had insm-ed 
proper preparation for the event long before war was declared. 

"Let mc know,"" he said, "just liow mucli mone_\" you need to 
put the ships in sailing order and you shall have it." Congress 
had made an emergency api)ropriation of fifty mdlion dollars of 
which more than twenty millions were put b}" President McKin- 
lev at the entire (.liscrction of .Secretary Long, thus giving him the 
means of carrying out the promise, and wlien the 19th of April. 
i8(j8, came, the nav}- was ready, and its victory was the first thing 
to turn the scale among foreign governments, and to win for the 
I'nited States the enthusiastic moral supjxirt of England, most 
imp.M'tant to it at this crisis. During the year of the war, the 
business of his department involved amounts aggregating S140.- 
(X)0.ooo. every cent of which was properly accounted for. 

The story of the astouuvling success of our fieets in the Phil- 
ippines and Cuba, without the loss of a vessel, is a tribute not 
only to the valor and ability of officers and men. but also to the 
foresight antl wise supervision of the Secretary, owing to which 
ihe great increase in the laboring force at the navy yards, in the 
beginning of the war, was accomplished without undue rush, and 
under such regulations as resulted in obtaining only skilled n.ien. 
Also the right commanders were sent tc^ the right places. 

Though the Secretary modestly awarded the merit to the able 
dei)artment chiefs, no one can ileny that mal-administration at 
the head might have brought about fatal delays or lack of proper 
equipment at the right time ; and the country did not fail to rec- 
ognize that in the Secretary of the Xavy, the right man was in 
tlie right place, and gave him its entire confidence. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 248 

A little untimely neglect, a few appointments for some rea- 
son besides proved ability, a lack at headquarters of an intelli- 
gent plan, and the lack of a master hand at the helm, might have 
brought about disaster, a lagging campaign, disaffection at 
home, and the mockery of those outside spectators whose sympa- 
thy it was important to win. 

( )ne of his considerations for the comfort and welfare of the 
sailors at the front was the provision of refrigerating supplv 
ships, which are practically innovations in naval warfare, and 
never before were hospital ships so admirably ecjui])pcd for 
service. 

After the war with Spain was over, Secretary Long gave his 
direct attention to increasing the material and personal efficiency 
of the naval service, and also to the reduction of the expendi- 
tures of his great department to the lowest limit consistent with 
efficiency. During his incumbency the entire personnel of the 
navy was re-organzed upon a new basis ; the naval militia organ- 
izations of our various states were fostered and encouraged, the 
upbuilding of the navy was carried on with a proper regard for 
our future necessities, and the beginning of the 20th century 
found him urging upon Congress a naval reserve force to act 
as an extension of the navy in time of war, and thus enable the 
regular establishment to be kept at the lov/est limit consistent 
with due regard for the care of our vessels during peace times. 
He resigned early in 1902. 

A subordinate said of him during his term of office: "Sec- 
retary Long's devotion to the business of the department is com- 
plete. Reaching his off'ce before nine (the opening hour) every 
morning, he makes it a point to answer every communication 
addressed to him. When this is accomplished he gives the rest 
of the morning to the examination of and decision in matters of 
business of the various bureaus, and to receiving official and pri- 
vate visitors. Xor does he leave the department until all the let- 
ters are signed, and every item of the day's business has been 
completed." 

A gentleman, who was his guest for a few days during the 
war, was struck with an interview at which he was present, be- 
tween the .Secretary and two Senators who came to advocate some 
plausible sclieme. Mr. Long listened to them with his usual cor- 
dial deference, Ijut, when the plan had been laid out before him, 



244 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

politely asked a question or two, which showed that he had laid 
his finger at once upon the weak point in tlie proposition, and aft- 
erwards could not be moved by any specious argument or per- 
sonal influence to give his consent to it. 

This honesty and keen perception of shams have been inval- 
uable to Mr. Long in his executive positions and he has that prac- 
tical sense and celerity in dispatching business characteristic of 
the able administrator, which always makes itself felt. Exciting 
the least possible friction by a courteous and conciliating bearing, 
he obtains what he wants without bluster or fuss. Behind his 
suavity of manner lie a resolute will, and a passionate, high spirit 
in excellent control, and his playful ease never detracts from a 
simple and manly dignity upon wdiich no one dares to presume, 
while his acuteness prevents deception. 

Perfectly reasonable in listening to argument, deliberate in 
coming to an important decision, l\Ir. Long is entirely tenacious 
of a position once taken as the result of his mature judgment, and 
this clearness and moderation, combined with resolution, give his 
opinions great weight in cabinet councils. Sharing the anxiety 
with regard to the ambassadors in Pekin at the time of the massa- 
cres in the summer of 1900, the Secretary of the Navy alone firm- 
ly maintained tbe logical opinion that the foreign ministers must 
be alive, since we knew for certain of the one death which had 
occurred and by the same token would probably through the same 
channel have information of other deaths. This shrewd judg- 
ment, though ridiculed at home and abroad, proved to be correct, 
and is another instance of that sagacity which has often stood the 
adjiiinistration in good stead. 

Add to these qualities a great power of turning ofif work with 
coolness, insight, and dispatch, apparent freedom from doubt or 
anxiety, a large serenity of temper, the capacity to change prompt- 
ly from one duty to another, combined with a fresh, gay humor 
which enlivens and makes palatable serious counsel — and we have 
an ideal administrator, whose steadiness and cheerfulness in emer- 
gencies were a great support to the Executive as well as to public 
confidence. 

Such briefly, is the sketch up to the beginning of the 20th cen- 
tury of the life of a typical American, who has performed his duty 
simply and effectively to his town, his state and his country. The 
story shows no dramatic events, no melancholy depths, no daz- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 245 

zling glory, but a career manly, efficient, distinguished, honorable 
alike to the individual and to the civilization of which he is a char- 
acteristic product. 

In estimating the causes of his success we must not fail to 
take into account, after his sincerity, and the kindliness of his 
nature, his exceptional mental ability and his remarkable gift of 
oratory, especially that which is best characterized as "occa- 
sional," the aptitude for speaking at a given moment words beau- 
tiful and appropriate which move every listener and touch the 
heart. 

In his speeches Mr. Long has the literary gift of grace and 
poetic feeling, but still better he has the power to comprehend 
and express the popular sentiment, not with effort, but from true 
understanding. He is by turns playful, tender, impassioned ; he 
can strike the keynote of the moment, always. Of dignified and 
appropriate eloquence, he is a master. His published speeches 
give a clew to his character, and in them the true, hearty, kindly 
simplicity of the man are clearly apparent, lighted up by that 
cheerful optimism, that boundless confidence in the future of the 
race, which distinguish him. 

One of his warmest friends, speaking of him, says: "He has 
no personal enthusiasms, and no vanity. He never thinks highly 
of anything he does himself, but only feels that anyone in his 
place would have done as well." And this feeling he brings to 
bear on historical characters whose greatness he feels to be the 
greatness of the hour, of the opportunity, rather than of remark- 
able heroism or ability. 

Whether one agrees with this or not, that he believes it, is a 
part of the unpretending nature of a man who thinks that doing 
one's duty is easy and natural to every one, and that its simple 
performance in high moments must lead to high results. Great 
men he considers myths, and when we search for his own best 
title to distinction, we find it in that large common sense — the 
common sense of Washington, of Lincoln, of Queen \ ictoria, 
which acts sincerely and acts wisely, because it feels with the 
people, and knows instinctively the larger human needs. 

In summing up his character, Mr. Long's great friendliness 
and sympathy must not be forgotten, a generous helpfulness that 
all his townspeople recognize so fully, that every one of them 
turns instinctively to him in an emergency for aid and advice, sure 



246 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

of comprehension and service given without stint. That flower of 
courtesy which recognizes every individual as having equal rights 
distinguishes him from lesser men, and wins him a place in the 
popular heart, such as can only be gained by something genuine, 
cordial, and unpretending in the individual himself. 

In looking back over his career we find nothing adventitious 
in his success in life — no struggle for efl'ect, no ambitious grasp- 
ing for power, no powerful backing, no great financial support. 
We have only the straightforward progress of a country lad of 
fine abilities and sound judgment, endowed with the gift of silver 
speech, who, by the sheer force of his intellect, and his honorable 
fulfillment of every duty which fell to him, rose in time to dis- 
tinctiiMi in his town, and in the capital of tlie state, to the highest 
place in the gift of the commonwealth, and to one of the most re- 
sponsible positions in the nation. We see him filling these oftices 
with efticiency and dignity, with no shadow on his fair fame, 
respected by his fellow-men of all stations ; and we are anew 
proud of a country where such a character is sure of recognition, 
and in which we can truly claim he is no uncommon type of the 
public men who are the result of the splendid opportunities for 
development afforded by the United States of America. 

He has been President of the Alumni of Harvard College, and 
is now President of the Harvard Board of Overseers. He holds 
many other positions : President of the Unitarian Club, of the 
Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society, of the Trustees of Derby 
Academy in Hingham, of Westford Academy, ^lass.. and of 
Hebron Acf.demy. Me., and of the Puritan Trust Co. He was 
Chairman of the Commissioners who reniodeled the State House 
twenty years ago. In Hingham he lias held the usual positions of 
Moderator for many years and of school committee man. He 
also published in two volumes a history of the Xew American 
Xavy, as well as his volume of After-Dinner and other speeches 
and many occasional poems. 

Mr. Long, while on his annual visit with Mrs. Long to Buck- 
field, was taken ill. The following day they returned to their 
Hingham home. Later in the week he had a more serious attack 
from which he never rallied, and passed away on Saturday 
evening, August 2S, 19 15. 

John D. Long just missed the Presidency ; but was everywhere 
recognized, as the scholar in politics, the model public man of his 
day. and the first citizen of Massachusetts ; honors fairlv won in 
a life time of honest endeavor, and greater far than anv tempo- 
rary public position, often dependent upon anything but real 
merit, could ever bestow. 




Washington Long 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 249 

HOX. WASHINGTON LONG. 

Washington Long, youngest son of Thomas Long, was born 
on the home farm on North Hill in Buckfield, April 6, 1811. He 
attended the district school and worked in his boyhood with his 
father. \\'hile still in early youth he went to live in the family 
of his brother, Zadoc Long, who had established himself in busi- 
ness in Buckfield \"illage and in whose home Washington had the 
education of instructive influences. It was at this time that he 
laid the foundation of the political interests to which he was de- 
voted all through his life. Later he went to Turner, and was in 
l)'jsiness there. In 1850 he went to Lyndon Plantation, now Car- 
ibou, in Aroostook County, and engaged in trade. From this 
time he was identified with Aroostook County and became one of 
its most prominent business and political leaders, known through- 
out the State. He lived in Lyndon five years, and then took up 
his permanent residence in Fort Fairfield in the same county, 
thenceforth regarding it at his home. He was in partnership 
there in trade with Jesse Drew, who, like himself was an emi- 
grant from Oxford County. This partnership continued until 
Mr. Long's appointment, under the first administration of Abra- 
liam Lincoln, as Collector of Customs at Eastport, that Custom 
district including Aroostook County. This office he held nearly 
nine years. At the expiration of his last term he retunred to Fort 
Fairfield. 

He was an earnest and active Republican from the beginning 
of that party, taking part in its conventions ; going as a delegate 
to the National Convention of i860, which nominated Lincoln. 
He sometimes spoke in public, but was especially forcible and 
efifective in that arena of local argument at tiie fireside or on the 
street and in the village store, which in our rural politics often 
accomplishes more than a set speech on the stump. Buckfield 
people whom he knew, as they all knew him, remember his skill 
in this direction. He read the leading papers, was a disciple of 
Horace Greeley, kept up acquaintance with our leading men, fol- 
lowed the debates in Congress, and was an encyclopedia of per- 
sonal, national and local politics and public men. He talked 
easily, had a ready wit and knack of direct homely expressive 
speech, and was a welcome guest at any family circle or neigli- 
borly gathering. Henry D. Irish of Buckfield sometimes refers 
to the days, when a mere boy, he sat at his father's hearth on 



250 HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 

North Hill a near neighbor to Thomas Long and listened, with an 
interest that no late honrs conld repress, to Washington Long dis- 
conrsing on the public news and characters of the day vluring an 
evening call. 

yir. Long never lost his interest in lUickheld. He often re- 
turned to it as to his old home. He owned till his death a house 
in the village, where his twin sister. ]\Irs. Harriet Lovering and 
his sister, ^Irs. Thankful C. Bacon lived. The people regarded 
him as one of their own. He was a member from Aroostook 
County on the Governor's Council during the gubernatorial ad- 
ministration of Lot M. jNIorrill and a member of the Legislature 
from Fort h airfield in 187Q. During his later years he passed a 
good deal of his time in Lawrence, Kansas, in which he becauie 
much interested socially and otherwise and made investments 
tliere. But it was to i^'ort h^airfield and Aroostook County that he 
was most devoted, contributing largely to the material and social 
interests of the community, and to the prosperity of that section of 
the State. His influence was always strongly on the side of public 
and private morals and reform. He erected a large and expensive 
building to provide a suitable hall for Fort Fairfield. He was a 
faithful member of its Congregational church, and died in that 
town Oct. 21. 1882, fearless of death and ready to go. He is 
buried in Buckfield with his father's family in the old burying 
ground at the foot of Xorth Hill. 

[Tlie fonowing lines were read and sang at a memorial service held 
in his new hall. Sabbath P.jM., October 22, 1SS2:] 

Within these virgin walls, now scarce complete, 
Fit emblem of the spotless life he bore, 
'Tis fitting here, in sadness thtis to meet. 
To bid farewell to him we greet no more. 

With anxious care, and oft with weary feet. 
Early and late he watched the progress still 
Of this fair structure, deemed by him most meet. 
To leave as his memento of good-will. 

We liere behold a public need supplied 

By his last crowning deed of lengthened years; 

Yet still we contemplate with higher pride 

His moral worth, though now recalled with tears. 

Those loved him most who long had known him best, 
Who knew his tender, sympathetic heart. 
That ever yearned for fellow-man distrest. 
And of eacii burden took a gen'rous part. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 251 

We mourn his loss; we fain would have him still; 
'Tis hard to part. We feel the chastening rod, 
But meekly yield to the Diviner Will, 
Trusting that now he rests at home with God. 



ZADOC I.OX';. IK. 

Zadoc Long, Jr., son of Zadoc Long, was born in iiucktield, 
April 26, 1834. He went to the village scliools and to Hebron 
Academy. He was then employed for a few years in the village 
stores, being at one time in partnership with his cousin. Carroll 
Loring. It was not long before he went to Boston and became a 
salesman in the hardware business with one or two large firms. 
In this vocation he travelled much in Elaine and later in the 
Western States, and his personal bearing and business dealings 
were such that he was successful and highly esteemed. It was on 
one of his trips that he died at Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1866. 

Few yoimg men brought up in IJuckfield have been more uni- 
versally beloved. His manner was cordial, his heart was "big as 
that of an ox" and his presence was good cheer. He was full of 
music, singing, and playing the violin with that sympathy that goes 
to the heart. Ide was the merriest of story tellers, and he overran 
with wit, anecdote and humor. He attracted around him. wher- 
ever he went, hosts of friends, who still recall, especially in his 
native town, his abundant life and spirits, his generous and un- 
stinted helpfulness and his sympathy and humor. 

He married Ruth A. 1j. Strout of Portland, granddaughter of 
Rev. George Thomes, a preacher and long a resident of Buck- 
field. There were four children of this marriage : Zadoc Long. 
;^(\, wlio lived much of his childhood with his grandfather and 
grandmotiier Long and was the delight of their old eyes, a sweet, 
loving generous boy, now dead ; Charles Strout Long, now with 
tlie Eastern Drug Company in Boston; Julia E. Long, now the 
wife of Edward C. Forbes of California, and. Ruth Cardie Long, a 
i:)rofessional singer in Portland and Boston, whose voice was of 
the most exquisite sympathy, now d.ead and lying with her father 
and mother in the Buckfield cemetery. All the^e children were 
nuich in the town in which were so many of their relatives on both 
ihc father's and mother's side, and are well remembered there. 



252 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

JOHN LORING. 

The family to which the Buckfield Lorings belong is the same 
as tliat of nearly all of the name in Xew England. They are 
descended from Thomas Loring of Axminster, England, who, in 
1635 left that place for the colony of Massachusetts Bay, with his 
wife. Jane Xewton, and sons, Thomas, born in 1629 and John, 
born in 1630. He settled in Hingham, Mass., early in 1636 and in 
1641 removed to Hull, an adjacent town, where he lived until his 
death. The fifth child of his oldest son, Thomas, was Caleb, who 
settled at Plymouth. Mass.. and married Lydia Gray in 1696. He 
was a physician and settled in Plympton, where he died on an es- 
tate, which his descendants have continued to occupy until within 
recent years. 

The ninth child of this Dr. Caleb Loring was Capt. John, born 
Nov. 15, 1715 at Plympton. He was captain of the Bridgewater 
troops which marched to Crown Point and is supposed to have 
been killed in the attack on that fort or during that campaign. 
His son, James, born ^lay i. 1739. was a sergeant in his father's 
company and also was a Revolutionary soldier. He married, Jan. 
I, 1770, Jane King-man at East Bridgewater. Their children were 
John, the first of the name in Buckfield, Laban who settled in Hat- 
field, Mass., and James who lived and died in Bridgewater, where 
his descendants may now be found. 

From the foregoing account of the family for which we are 
indebted to Mr. John A. Loring of Springfield, Mass.. it appears 
that John Loring of Buckfield. son of James, the Revolutionary 
soldier was a direct descendant in the sixth generation from 
Thomas, who settled in Hingham in 1636. He was born in Hat- 
field, !Mass. It appears that in his youth he was ambitious for an 
education ; for he worked out for his board and an opportunity to 
attend school and after several years of study, he became a suc- 
cessful teacher in Bridgewater. He there married in 1794. Jennett. 
daughter of Joshua Barrelle, and moved to Turner, Me., where his 
father-in-law, the progenitor of all the people of his name in that 
town had also settled. While in Turner ^Ir. Loring engaged in 
trade and also in the manufacture of oil and card boards. He ap- 
pears of record there in 1804 as Justice of the Peace and trustee 
of the min"sterial and grammar school fund. He removed to 
Buckfield in the spring of 1S05. At that time the lower part of 
the present site of the village was all an alder swamp, with only 




John Loring 




Lucius Loring 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD '255 

two houses on the southerly side of the stream, the Capt. Parris 
house and a small one-story house near the present summer house 
in Kimbal! \. Prince's yard. He bouj^ht the latter house, cur 
away the alders arid that year built a store, twenty-five feet square, 
just south from the store now owned by Randolph C. Thomes. 
This store, until the days of the railroad, was a ntUable center of 
country business. Here he engaged in trade and continued his 
former Turner business of making card boards. He remained in 
business many years, the store finally passing into the hands of 
his son, Lucius, with whom he resided until his death. During 
his later years he was in feeble health, suffering greatly from 
asthma. Jde died in Buckfield, April i, 185 1, aged 80 years, 9 
months and 14 days. 

The marriage record of ^fr. Loring in Mridgewater invests him 
with the title of esquire, which he continued to bear during his 
whole after life and he is now seldom recalled in memory except 
as "old Squire Loring." He w^as a Just'ce of the Peace manv 
years, and his court sittings were prominent features of by-gone 
village days. Saturdays were then field days in Buckfield. on 
which the people from all the surrounding community would flock 
to the village for trade or convivial gossip and the incidents of the 
day usually resulted in some litigious affairs to be aired the fol- 
lowing Monday before Sf|uire Loring. These courts were first 
held in his house, but the crowd became so intrusive upon his 
d.omestic afl:airs that he built an office for the better convenience of 
an eager public. 

Squire Loring was a man of conspicuous ])ersonality, of 
courtl\' manners and somewhat aristocratic bearing. He was 
deeply interested in educational affairs, for which he always ad- 
vocated liberal public provisi'ins. To his latest days he preserved 
a quaintness of dress, retaining the old continental style, with a 
three-cornered hat. ruffled shirt, knee breeches and low shoes with 
shining buckles, which rendered him a ])icturesque figure in the 
grouping of old-time village life. 

His children, all born in Turner, were: Lucius, born Dec. ly. 
1797, married Sally Long; Jeunette, lx>rn July 25, 1800. married 
Judge Stephen Emery; John Alfonso, born Aug. 18, 1802, flied in 
1803. 



256 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

LUCIUS LORIXG. 

Lucius Loring, son of John, was seven years of age when he 
came with his father to Buckfield. Growing to manhood during 
the growth of the village from a wilderness to a business center, 
he became familiar with all the early associations of the town, 
pleasant pictures of which he gives in his "Reminiscences," else- 
where appearing in this volume. From the limited educational 
provsions of the times and the instructions of his well-informed 
father he acquired a good knowledge of the Engli'^h branches. At 
an early age he became familiar with the ways of country trade 
in his father's store, where he formed an extensive acc[uaintance 
with the people. He was in trade several years with his father, 
later becoming sole proprietor, and having at dift'erent times part- 
nership associations with Zadoc Long, Washington Long and 
Ralph C. Jewett. While in business with the latter the 
second Loring store was built to which the large business of the 
firm was transferred. For many years he was the most prominent 
merchant in town, his heavy spring and fall stock of goods from 
Portland and Boston always attracting a throng of visiting pur- 
chasers from both near and distant towns. The continuity of his 
mercantile career, covering a period of forty-two years in active, 
prosperous trade is without a parallel in the history of the town. 
With a large circle of old-time friends and highly esteemed by the 
whole community he retired with a competence to the enjoyment 
of an ideal country life and a green old age. His residence, with 
its surrounding shade trees and large terraced flower garden was 
one of the most attractive country seats in the county. The first 
break in his family circle came in the death of his wife in 1861, 
after which he continued housekeeping with his daughter and son 
until the marriage of the former in 1867. He then sold his 
paternal estate and purchased the house on the opposite side of the 
street, in which he and his son resided until the death of the latter 
in 1868. He then resided with his widowed daughter-in-law, who 
faithfully cared for him in the house of her father until his life 
ended. 

Mr. Loring always kept in touch with the world's events and 
though never controversial, had strong convictions respecting pub- 
lic questions, being in religion a liberal, in politics a republican. 
Thovigh never seeking public preferment, he was appointed staff 
major in the militia and in 1861 was chosen to represent the Legis- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 257 

lative district, Cdinposc.l of iUickticM. Su;nncr and Woodstock, 
against the candidacy of his nephew, jnhn !3. Long-. The cam- 
paign preceding- tlie election was brisk and exciting and is now 
often humorously recalled as the one in which the future Massa- 
chusetts Governor and Secretary of the Xavy was knocked out up 
in Maine by his mild-mannered old Uncle Lucius. iUit the 
younger man won a crumb of consolation from his flattering ma- 
jority in his own town, the vote standing 228 to i/g in his favor. 

Daring his whole life Mr. Loring was a liberal patron of every 
good cause. He liad a sunny, SNinpatlietic nature, a face of cheer 
and a kindly greeting for all. Though old in years, his heart was 
always \oring. He was as companionable with the young as with 
those of riper years, and to his latest days was always performing 
soiiie kindly act, using his income freely for the comfort and 
pleasure of others. During his last years lie could walk only by 
aid of crutches, l3ut this divl not keep him indoors, and his frail 
figure, as he slowdy \vorked his way along, was for many years a 
familiar one on the village streets. He died Sept. 29, 1889 at the 
advanced age of 92 years, honored by all and leaving on the mem- 
orv of the present generation a lasting impression of his lovable 
character. 

His children were: Jennette, born Se]:it. 16, 1825, who mar- 
ried William H. Atwood, June, 1867, died Jan. 6, 1903; Charles 
Carroll, born Xov. 23, 1832, married Emily, daughter of Ephraim 
Atwood, October, 1868. " He died Oct. 7,' i8':.8.' 



CHARLES CARROLL LORIXG. 

Charles Carroll Loring from his youth to manhood was asso- 
ciated with business in his father's store, and was subsequently in 
trade several years with other village merchants : but liis nature 
was never fully in touch with matters of trade. Failing health 
caused his early retirement from business, after which he rapidly 
declined imtil his death when but thirty-five years of age. An 
only son, his relations with his father were of the most confiding 
nature, not only tenderly filial, but having the nature of an unre- 
served and life-long companionship. He never attended school 
beyond the limits of the village, but he became liberally edu- 
cated tlirough jjrivate instruction and years of diligent study. 
He was of thoughtful cast of mind, a poetic lover of nature ami 



258 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



1 



a devoted reader and student of literature. Jn the literary asso- 
ciations of the village he was an active nieniber, excelling as a 
conversationalist and public debater. He v.-as a frequent con- 
tributor to the periodicals of the day and a graceful writer in 
b<-)th prose and verse. 

The history of the Buckfield Loring family is notably re- 
llective of the pathos of human life. Beginning here in a wilder- 
ness, it was prominently associated with the best interests of the 
town from the dawn of the century until its going out, and then 
the last representative of the family name. ^Irs. Jennette (Lor- 
ing) Atwood, passed away and the tale of its generations was 
fully told. 

Al'PLETOX F. MASON. 

Appleton F. Mason, the son of Xaphtali and Arvilla S. 
(XN'aterman") ^lason, was born in Buckfield, Aug. 3. i84t. His 
grandfather, ^Ir. Philip C. Mason, an early settler in Paris, who 
followed the occupation of a blacksmith, passed the last years of 
his life in Buckfield and died here Feb. 7, 1S56, aged about 65, 
He had two wives — Betsy Coburn, who died in 1826 and second, 
Lucy Coburn ; six children boni of each union. 

Tlie father of Appleton F. Mason was a prominent man and 
kept a livery stable at South Paris for many years and served 
for a time as a deputy sherift. He died in Buckfield at an ad- 
vanced age. Mr. Appleton F. Mason. acquired his education in 
the public schools of the town and fitted himself for a teacher, 
which occupation he followed for several years. He opened a 
store at Xorth Buckfield in 1864 which he has successfully man- 
aged and has been frequently in town affairs. Since 1875 'i^ 
has been the village postmaster. In 1868 he married Miss Em- 
ma Adelaide, daughter of Elias and Eliza Turner ^lonk. She 
was born Sept. 14. 1847. ' H!^ •^i^d i" IPLS) 



XAHUM MOORE. 

Xahum Moore, son of John and Esther (Ryerson) Moore, 
was born in Sumner. Me.. April 2, 1S24. His grandfather, 
Thomas, came to America as a British soldier in Gen. Burgoyne's 
amiv. After the surrender at Saratoga, he was taken into the 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 259 

service of the patriots and after the war settled permanently in 
the country. 

In 1845 the subject of this sketch went to Abington, Mass., 
and worked in a shoe shop. Two years after he entered a store 
as clerk and in October of that year married Miss Phebe C. Ste- 
phens of Sumner. In 1850 he opened a dry goods store in 
Dover, X. H. The next year he went into the wholesale dry 
goods and groceries business with Samuel Ellis, a native of Sum- 
ner. Two years after he sold out and went into trade at East 
Abington. In 1855 was elected to the Massachusetts Legisla- 
ture. In 1857 he moved to Buckfield and purchased the Nathan 
Morrill farm on the Turner road. He sold to Silas Mitchell in 
1865 and removed to the village and went into trade with Isaac 
Morrill. His wife died in 1865 and he married second, Miss 
Ruth Snell, daughter of Mellen Snell of Turner. In 1870 he 
was elected to the Maine Legislature. Having received the ap- 
pointment as conductor on the passenger train of the Portland & 
Rumford Falls Railroad, he moved to Canton in 1881, and later 
to Rumford Falls. Mr. Moore served for 22 years as conductor 
and in 1902 he was appointed as special agent of the company, a 
position he held at the time of his death about igi2. 

Of engaging manners and pleasing address, he was well fitted 
for the positions he occupied and the business he followed and 
was thoroughly liked and respected by all who ever knew him. 

By his first wife, he had four children : Geo. Henry, born 
Dec. 26, 1848, is in Illinois; John E., born Dover, N. H., Sept. 15, 
1850, married Sarah E. Atwood, daughter of Charles B. xAtwood. 
They have had five children, Charles Nahum, born A4ay 6, 1872, 
died Jan. 16, 1889; Emily May, born Feb. 17, 1875, married 
Adelbert Parsons ; Sarah Phebe, born Dec. 6, 1877 ; Bessie 
Louise, born May 16, 1882, married Fred Holland and, Othel 
Harold, born April 7, 1884. The third child and son of Nahum 
Moore, Eugene Herbert, born Dec. 20, 1852, died Oct. 24, 1854 
and Charles Sumner, born Jan. 4, 1865, died Sept. 24, 1872. By 
his second wife he had two children : Wallace Ryerson, Ixjrn Oct. 
21, 1873, married August, 1897, Miss Lucy E. Park, daughter of 
Henry W. Park, Esq., of Mexico, Me., and Esther Louise, born 
March 10, 1879, married June, 1900, A. J. Bernis. They reside 
at Plymouth, Mass. 



2(JU HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CAPT. JOSIAll PARRTS. 

Josiali Parris, who settled in JUicktield about the time the 
town was incorporated, was born in Pembroke, j\Iass., Aug'. 30, 
1760. He enlisted as a volunteer in the War for American In- 
dependence in September, 177(\, when scarcely 16 years of age. 
J'^rom statement in his declaration for pension in 1832 it is cer- 
tain that he served thereafter a portion of every year during the 
war. He was in six campaigns and several battles and during 
some periods of his service was under \\'ashington and La- 
Favette. In after life he often spoke of the Father of our 
Country with atf'ection and reverence and of his bearing and 
characteristics. During an engagement with the Pritish near 
Xew]iort, R. I., an order of Gen. LaFayette's on account of his 
imperfect use of English was not understood and some confusion 
for a time resulted. Capt. Parris long remembered the inci- 
dent and related it with much amusement. 

After the Declaration of Independence on every 4th of July 
he discharged the gun he carried during the conflict, a custom 
which has been followed by his son and grandsons to the present 
time. It is one of the very few firearms used by American sol- 
diers in that war, now in existence. This gun has on the whole 
a verv interesting history. It was brought from England in 
1683 by Thomas Parris, the American ancestor of the family and 
handetl down from father to son and thus came into the posses- 
sion of this Patriot of the Revolution. 

Captain Parris came first to Hebron where he remained 
awhile with his brother, Sanmel. who was appointed one of the 
judges of the court of common pleas when Oxford County was 
"organized, lie had married. July 23. 1788, Miss Experience 
Lowdcn of r.ridgewater. ^lass., born April 25, 1768. On coming 
to Buckrield in 1703 they settled on Loring's Hill in the village 
where thev passed the remaining years of their lives. 

My. Parris engaged in trade for several years and at first 
brought his goods from Portland on horseback in saddle bags. 
Appointed ensign in the militia about the time of coming to 
Buckfield. he was promoted to lieutenant and to captain. He 
commanded the Buckfield company at the first regimental muster 
in this part of the District of Elaine, held at Norway in 1802. 
His wife died Tan. 4. 1832. Capt. Josiah Parris lived to be the 
last surviving soldier of the War of the Revolution in Buckfield 




Edivcirc) I. Par/v's c/n 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 263 

and "tlie last survivor of the battle of Rliiide Island." He died 
March 24, 185^) and was buried in the family lot in the cemetery 
above the village. 

The following inscription is on his gravestone: 

"Sacred to the Memory of 

Capt. Josiah I'arkis 

A Patriot of the Revolution, 

Born at Pembroke, Mass... 

Aug. 30, 1760. 

At the age of 16 with his father and 

two brothers, he joined the Army 

and served six campaigns 

in the War for American Independence. 

He afterwards became one of the pioneer 

settlers of Hebron and an early 

resident of Buckfield where 

he died March 24, 1856 

aged 95 years." 



HON. EDWARD L. PARRIS 

Edward Lowden Parris, oldest child of Hon. \ "irgil D. and 
Columbia ( Rawson ) Parris, was born on Loring's Hill in Buck- 
field Village, Sept. 3, 1837, attended the school near his home in 
early boyhood, lived in Portland for six years prior to 1852 and 
after that on Paris Hill. Fitted for college at Norway Liberal 
Institute and at Hebron Academy and graduated at Union Col- 
lege, N. Y., in class of 1857 with the degree of A. B. and after- 
wards the degree of A. M. was given him by the same institution. 
He was in the ofifice of his father as United States storekeeper at 
Kittery, Maine, Navy Yard for several months and for about 
three years in the office of Fletcher Webster, son of the Great De- 
fender of the Constitution, Daniel Webster, who had received the 
appointment of United States Surveyor of the Port of Boston. 

Mr. Parris began his law studies in the office of Rufus Choate, 
one of the most famous lawyers of his time and remained there 
till the death of Mr. Choate — ]\Ir. Parris being his last law stu- 
dent. He graduated at Harvard Law School with the degree of 



264 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



Bachelor of Laws; in i865 was in tlie office of Alvah Black, Esq 
at Paris Hill for a time and was admitted to the Oxford Bar at 
Pans the same year and at once moved to New York City and be 
gan the practice of his profession where he has remained to the 
present time. He was Assistant United States District Attorney 
from 1867 to 1870, was the founder of the Young Men's Demo 
cratic Club in the city which was afterwards to play a prominent 
part m the overthrow of the Tweed Ring and was one of the coun- 
sel m the prosecution and conviction of Wm. M. Tweed Attended 
as a delegate from the New England Society of New York the 
Centennial Celebration of the Battle of P.unker Hill Jnne 17 
1875 and was one of the counsel for Hon. Samuel J. Tilden in the 
contest following the Presidential election of 1876 and was of the 
counsel in Morula in the court proceedings there for the Tilden 
electors and before the United States Electoral Commission 
which decided the contest by a strict party vote of 8 to 7 on all 
vita! questions raised. From 1884 to 1889 Mr. Parris was As- 
sistant District Attorney for the city of New York and Commis- 
sioner of Taxes and Assessments 1889-1893 by appointment of 
Mayor Abram S. Hewett. Appointed in 1900 bv President Wn, 
McKmley a member of Board of Visitors to United States Naval 
Academy at Annapolis. Md. Mr. Parris is a n.ember of many 
socia and college clubs and associations and is highly esteemed 
and thoroughly liked by all who know him. He married in 1866 
Miss Mary Ida DuBois of Fishkill, N. Y., born there June 22' 
1850. She IS an accomplished lad)' and as popular as her hus- 
band. They have had three children: (i), Marion, born May 
22, 1879. prepared for college at the P>rearlev School in the citv 
and entered Bryn Mawr College, Pa., whe/e she gra.luated in 
1901, warden of Rockefeller Hall in same institution 1902-190S 
bellow m Economics there i905-'o6, awarded 15rvn Mawr Euro- 
pean Fellowship 1905-07 and spent thac year studying at the 
University of ^^ienna, Professor of Economics 1907 at Brvn 
Mawr, received the degrees of A. M. and l>h. D. from same insd- 
tution in 1908, chairman of board of directors of Bureau of Occu- 
pation for Trained Women in Philadelpliia and a member of 
many other societies and associations. Aliss Parris married [une 
II, 1912 Wm. Roy Smith. Professor of Vmerican HistorV in 
Bryn Mawr College; (2), Edward Lowden. born Aug 2 
i88r. died Mar. 21, 1883; (3), Edward Lowden, born Jan 20' 




Rear Admiral Thos. S. Phelps 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 267 

1887, after attaining his education went to Philadel]:)hia, Pa., 
where he remained for two years when he returned to New York 
City where he has since been located in business. Young Parris 
h.as made a special study of mechanical engineering, is an in- 
ventor and manufacturer of electrical automobile equipment, gen- 
eral manager of the Ignition Specialty Co., of New York, mem- 
ber of the Society of Automobile Engineers, Sons of the Revo- 
lution and several other societies and clubs. 



REAR ADMIRAL THOMAS S. PHELPS. 

Thomas Stowell Phelps was born in Buckfield, Nov. 2, 1822. 
His parents were Stephen and Elizabeth N. (Stowell) Phelps. 
Stephen Phelps was born in Sutton, ^lass., July 8, 1783 and his 
wife in South Paris, Oct. 5, 1785. They were married at South 
Paris, once called Stowell's ]\Iills, Jan. 29, 1806. They moved 
to Buckfield in 18 16 where he went into business as a merchant 
or trader on the south side of the river. He died in Buckfield, 
Feb. 21, 1829. She died Oct. 7, 1832. 

The son, Thomas S. Phelps, having an inclination for a sea- 
faring life, obtained an appointment through Plon. Virgil D. 
Parris, then a member of Congress from the Oxford District in 
January, 1840, as midshipman in the United States Navy. His 
service was in all parts of the globe, a part of it on the famous 
old frigate ''Constitution." He was promoted from one grade to 
another till he was commissioned as commander with rank of 
lieutenant of the steamer "Vixen" on special service, coast sur- 
rey, from August, '59 to September, "61 and was attached to the 
expedition for the relief of Fort Sumter in Charleston, S. C, 
Harbor. Nov. 14, '61, his vessel had an engagement with the 
Rebel gunboat "Curlew" in Pamlico Sound, N. C, for which he 
received the compliments of the Secretary of the Navy. Early 
in the year, 1862, he was assigned to the command of a division 
of the North Atlantic lilockading Squadron off the Virginia 
coast, where he was in frequent engagements with the enemy, 
capturing five and destroying two vessels. At tlie bombardment 
of Fort Fisher, X. C, in January, 1865, he commanded the 
"Juniata." In August, 1865, he was commissioned commander, 
promoted to captain in the regular service in 1871, to Commodore 



268 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

in 1879 and Rear Admiral in 1884. Retired on account of age. 
Nov. 2, 1884. 

He died in New York City. Jan. 10, 1901. His wife is also 
deceased. Both are buried in the National Cemetery at Arling- 
ton, near Washington, D. C. His son, Thomas S. Phelps, Jr., 
also entered the Naval Service and is now (1913) a Rear Ad- 
miral and stationed at ^lare Island, Cal. 



DEA. TOP. PRINCl-:. 

Dea. Job Prince was a descendant in the tifth generation 
from Elder John Prince of Hull, Mass., who in 1633, being then 
a student at Oxford, Englantl, and expecting to succeed his fa- 
ther. Rev. John Prince as rector of the East Shefford Church 
Society in Berkshire, was driven to America by the persecutions 
of Archbishop Laud. Rev. John Prince married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Rev. Dr. Tolderburg and had four sons and seven 
daughters. Elder John Prince born in 1610 at East Shefford, 
was their oldest child. He lived at different periods after com- 
ing to America at Watertown, Hingham, Nantasket and Hull, 
was Ruling Elder at tlie latter place in 1644 and died there. He 

was twice married, first to Alice Honour and second, Anne . 

His death occurred in 1676. Nine children, all by first wife. 
Thomas, the youngest child born in 1658 at Scituate, married 
Ruth, daughter of John Turner, Sr., of Scituate. He died at 
Bai^badoes in 1704. Five children. Job, the youngest, born in 
1695, married Abigail Kimball, and had six children; Kimball, 
the third child born May 9, 1726, married October 13, 1750, 
Deborah, daughter of Dea. John Fuller and had Christopher, 
born July 22, 1751 ; Kimball, born July 29, 1753; Sarah, born 
Jan. 15, 1756; Ruth, born May 7, 1758; Deborah, born July 13, 
1760; Noah.' born January 18, 1763; Job. born .May 22, 1765; 
Jolm, born Feb. 27,, 1768, and Hezekiah. 

Job Prince married in Turner, June 23, 1791, Hannah Bryant. 
Their children recorded on the Buckfield records were : Lydia, 
born June 21, 1702, married Dec. 18. 1817, Daniel Young of 
Norway, died Jan. 20, 1888; Rebekah, born May 2, 1793, married 
June 2. 1839. Daniel Pond of Paris, died .Mig. 29, 1861 ; Hon. 
Job, born Mar. 17. 1795, married June 2^^ 1821. first, Zilpha 
Spaulding, second. Olive Leavitt, settled in Turner, died April 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 269 

20, 1875; Hon. Xoah, born April 13, 1797, married March 12, 
1826, Sarah Farrar; Hannah, born Aug. 16, 1799, married first, 
Ezar ^Morton, ^May 2, 1852, second Eliphalet Sturtevant, August, 
'ii^Sy ^^^f' ^lar. 20, 1837; Rufus, born Sept. 24, 1801, married 
1820, Sophia Brewster, settled in Bangor: r)live, born Jan. 21, 
1804, married May 15, 1834, Abel Stetson of Sumner, died Mar. 
17, 1863; Louisa, born Feb. 15, 1806, married first, I'eter G. 
Bailey of P^angor, Feb. 27, 1826, second, Rev. Geo. iiates of 
Turner. July. 1832. died Sept. i, 1888 and Ardelia, born Aug. 
24, 1808, married June, 1833, W'm. R. Hersey of I-incoln, died 
June 21, 1873. 

Kimball Prince, the father of Job, was in the expedition 
against Louisburg in 1745. and was also a soldier of the Revo- 
lution. Kimball Prince and Deborah Fuller, his wife, were 
descendants of Elder \\m. Brewster. 

Job Prince removed from Kingston, Mass., to Bucktown, 
probably in the spring of 1788 as his deed of lOO acres, for which 
lie paid £15 in gold, is dated June 23, 1788. On this farm he 
lived and died. In 1802 the 2d Baptist church v.as organized. 
Job Prince and his wife, Hannah, being of the 13 who founded 
it. Mr. Prince was its first deacon and afterwards, the records 
say, was one of the leading members of the 1st church. 

Jn 1793 Hezekiah Prince of Thomaston, grandfather of Gen. 
Jona. Prince Cilley, visited all his brothers and sisters from 
}ilaine to \'irginia in a 1200-mile horseback ride ; and, in his 
diary says of Bucktown — "There are about 550 inhabitants. 
The soil seems fertile and the people are industrious and happy 
in their forest homes. I can but admire, in these new settle- 
ments, the kind, neighborly feeling that exists. They assist each 
other in all heavy work, settlers for miles around joining forces 
in house building, wood clearing, husking and quilting bees. 
When one farmer kills a cow the neighbors share and so 
butchering is tiined to suit the community. Homespun clothing 
of flax or wool is principally worn. Farm hands are paid from 
$8 to Sio per month and female help $.50 per week. Spelling 
and singing schools, gunning, sleigh rides and coasting are the 
recreations. Letters are carried by private parties and delivered 
as opportunity offers." 

The Princes are long lived. Mr. Geo. Prince, in a magazine 
article, speaks of relatives living to the ages of 88, 96, 95, 92, 85, 
89, 94, 91 and 96. 



270 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

HON. XOAH PRINCE. 

Noah Prince, second son of Dea. Job and Hannah Bryant 
Prince, was born in Buckfield, April 13, 1797, on the original 
Prince farm on which he lived until 1855 when he removed to 
the village three miles away. He grew to manhood working on 
the farm and getting a little schooling in the winter by walking 
two miles after the "chores" were done. His integrity, sound 
judgment and forceful character made themselves felt early in 
life, and for many years he was prominent in town affairs. He 
held commissions as Justice of the Peace and as Trial Justice 
from 1839 until his death, and also a commission from President 
Taylor and two Internal Revenue licenses. 

In 1840, '41, 42, '43, Air. Prince represented the town in the 
legislature and in 1850, '51, '52 was state senator from Oxford 
County. In 1851 and '52 he was President of the Senate, during 
which time the "Maine Law" was passed which measure he sup- 
ported. 

In 1852 Mr. Prince presided at a convention in Norway, com- 
posed of bolters from the democratic party, which convention it 
is claimed, gave birth to the republican party, and in 1853 as chair- 
man of the democratic state committee, he issued a call to the 
"Democratic Republicans of the State of Alaine" for a "Mass 
Convention in Portland" of which meeting he was made chairman. 

Mr. Prince was one of the projectors and directors of the 
Buckfield Branch Railroad, now a part of the Portland & Rumford 
Falls road. 

In 1825 he married Miss Sarah Farrar and together they lived 
happy, prosperous and useful lives until his death, Feb. 14, 1872. 
Both were members of the Baptist church to which they gave gen- 
erously. She died Aug. 2, 1881. They had seven children: S. 
Louise, born Aug. 28, 1826, married Francis C. Buck, Dec. 27, 
1849 and died May 13, 1858; N. Kimball Prince, born May 8, 
1828, married Mary J. Emery, Oct. 8, 1854; Augusta M., born 
Nov. 28, 1 83 1, married Nov. 17, 1853, A. Hamilton Thayer, who 
died July 6, 1868 and she married second, April 5, 1872, Thomas 
E. Stevens ; Ardelia H., born July 10, 1835, a school teacher of 
sufficient length of service to be pensioned and a writer of both 
prose and poetry; Charles H., born May 9, 1837, married Eunice 
A. Atwood, Jan. 30, 1859 and died April 3, 191 2 and Mary R.. 
born x\pril 19, 1841, married Dec. 9, 1868, Dr. Orrin R. Hall. 




Noah Prince 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 273 

HON. CHARLES H. PRINCE. 

Charles Henry Prince, second son of Xoah and Sarah (Far- 
rar) Prince, was born on the Prince farm in Buckfield, Maine, 
May 9, 1837. He was educated in the common and high schools 
of Buckfield where, in 1861, he was appointed postmaster, and in 
1862 raised Co. C. of the 23d Regiment, Maine Volunteers, of 
which he was captain during its term of service. 

In 1866 Mr. Prince removed to Augusta, Ga., where he was 
cashier of the Freedmen's Savings and Trust Bank, and Superin- 
tendent of schools under the A. M. A. He was a member of the 
Georgia Constitutional Convention and also of the Forty-first Con- 
gress. He was a delegate to the national convention in Philadel- 
phia which nominated Grant for his second term ; to Chicago 
where Hayes was nominated, and to Cincinnati where Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination. 

Mr. Prince was Postmaster at Augusta for twelve years and 
of him Alex. H. Stephens wrote to President Grant : "Capt. 
Prince, though a very decided and strong Republican, is a per- 
sonal friend of mine and as he has made the best Postmaster that 
Augusta has had in twenty years, my suggestion is that he be re- 
tained. I think the people of Augusta would prefer him to any 
other man of his party." 

The Springfield Republican said of him: "He is that anom- 
aly, a reputable carpet-bagger, who has illustrated the truth that 
an honest northerner can make a place for himself in any southern 
state." 

Augusta papers said on his retirement : "Capt. Prince has 
been an able and courteous officer and has the whole city for his 
friends." ''Our people will regret to part with him." 

Mr. Prince returned to Buckfield in 1882 where he engaged in 
trade and was for some years superintendent of schools. He was 
a member of the Maine Senate of 1901 and, at the time of his 
death, April 3, 191 2, was a brush manufacturer. 

Mr. and ^Irs. Prince were staunch members of the Baptist 
church. 

He married Jan. 30. 1859. Eunice A., daughter of Lorenzo 
and Lucy (Harris) Atwood, born Oct. 5, 1838 at .\von, ]\Lass. 
Her parents moved to Buckfield in 1842. They had four chil- 



274 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

dren : First, Ellsworth, named for Col. E. E. Ellsworth of the 
New York Zouaves in the Civil War, whose tragic death occurred 
at Alexandria. A a., while tearing down a Confederate flag, born 
March 30, 1861, died Alay 3, 1866; second. Henry Charles, born 
Feb. 26. 1866, married Afellie J. Keene ; third. Josephine Louise, 
born Sept. 17. 1868. married Albert Foster Drunimond of W'ater- 
ville, Sept. 25, 1889. Children: Louise, born Oct. 25, 1891 ; 
Prince .\.. born Jan. 23, 1893; Katherine S.. born Sept. 26, 1894; 
Clark, born April 5. 1900; fourth, Lucy .\.twood, born Aug. i, 
1874, married at Waterville. Oct. 18, 1897. J"*!^!^ E. Shearman of 
Portland, born at Keswich, England, April 18, 1871, children: 
Evan Johi]. born April 2, 1900 and Josephine, born ]\Iar. 12, 1903. 

Augusta Alarion Prince, daughter of Xoah and Sarah Farrar 
Prince, was born in Buckfield, Nov. 28, 1831. She attended the 
schools in Buckfield and afterward entered the Oxford Normal 
Listitute at South Paris where she took high rank. After teach- 
ing in various places, she was married in 1852 to A. Hamilton 
Thayer of Paris, where they settled, where her only child, Charles 
H. Thayer was born and where her husband died in 1868. In 
1873 she married Thomas E. Stearns and moved to Snow's Falls 
in Paris. 

In 1881 the family removed to Cambridge, ^Slass.. where, 
zealously espousing the movement for no license, at that time the 
paramount issue in Cambridge, she at once became a co-worker 
with the temperance women of the city. In 1883 she was presi- 
dent of the Cambridge W. C. T. L*. and in 1880 the Union pre- 
sented a petition to Mayor Russell urging her appointment as the 
first police matron of Cambridge, which position she accepted only 
after a personal appeal from the mayor. How satisfactorily she 
performed this service was effectively expressed by Capt. ]^Iurray 
of Station i in a conversation with the present mayor regarding 
the appointment of her successor. 

"Do the best you can, you cannot expect to find another ]\Irs. 
Stearns." 

Beloved and esteemed by all who ever knew her, Mrs. Stearns 
died snddenlv at her home in Cambridge on ?^Iarch is, 1904. 




Capt. Charles H. Prince 




Henry C. Prince 



I 



HISTORY OF BL'CKF[ELD 277 

HEXRV CHARLES PRINCE. 

Henry Charles Prince, son of Charles H. and Eunice .Vtwood 
Prince, was born in Buckfield, February 26, 1866. He com- 
menced his education in the common schools of Buckfield and later 
attended Hebron Academy and Coburn Classical Institute and en- 
tered Colby College but did not complete the course, returning to 
Buckfield after one year to enter into business with his father. In 
the early spring of 1887 he went west being located in Kansas and 
the Indian Territory for four years. In the spring of 1891 he re- 
turned to \\'aterville and in company with E. T. Wyman bought 
the Waterville ]\Iail. In 1896 the firm started the Waterville Eve- 
ning IMail, the first daily paper to be publislied in that city. A 
little later he bought out his partner and ran the paper success- 
fully until 1905 when he sold the business and purchased the Bul- 
letin plant in Madison, which he still contuiues to run. 

In 1910 ^Ir. Prince was appointed State Librarian, serving 
until February, 191 2, when he was removed to make room for one 
of the same political faith as the governor. In January, 19 13, 
there coming another change of administration, Mr. Prince was 
re-appointed, serving until February, 191 5. 

Mr. Prince has always taken active interest in city and town 
affairs, serving in the city government three years while in Water- 
ville, for two years being president of the Common Council. He 
also served on the Board of Registration and was a member of a 
committee which had charge of the construction of one of the 
large grammar school buildings there. In IMadison he also 
served on a building committee for a new school building and has 
taken an active part in the meetings of the Board of Trade. 

Air. Prince joined the order of Knights when in Kansas in 
1889, being transferred to Havelock Lodge, Waterville, in 1892. 
He has held nearly all of the ofiices in the lodge and also in the 
L'niform Rank. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans 
and the Modern Woodmen. He joined the society of the De- 
scendants of the Mayflower in 191 3, tracing back the Prince 
ancestry to Elder William Brewster. 

In 1893 ^Ii"- Prince married Miss Mellie J. Keene of West 
Poland, and they have two children, Ellsworth, born July 20, 
1895, 'i"*^ Helen, born June 3, 1900. 



278 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



ALBION VV. SMALL, PH.D., LL.P. 



Albion Woodbury Small, the son of Rev. Albion K. P. and 
Thankful (Woodbury) Small was born in Buckfield, Alaine, May 
nth, 1854. When he was four years of age his parents moved 
to Bangor, Maine ; he was in the public schools of that city until 
he was fourteen, when his parents moved to Portland, and during 
the next four years he was in the high school of that city. The 
following years he was a student at Colby University, Waterville, 
Maine. Then he completed the three years' course in Newton 
Theological Institution in 1879, and during the years 1879-81 
he was a student in the Universities of Berlin and Leipzig, using 
the vacations for travel over large portions of Europe, and follow- 
ing his university study with a period of investigation in the Brit- 
ish Museum. In June of 1881 he was married in Berlin to Frau- 
lein Valeria \"on Massow of an old Prussian land-owning family. 
Before returning from Germany, on the recommendation of Pres- 
ident Robbins, Mr. Small was elected Professor of History and 
Political Economy at Colby University, and began his work in 
September, 1881. In 1888 he was granted leave of absence for 
one year, spending the time at Johns Hopkins University and re- 
ceiving the degere of Doctor of Philosophy in 1889. During the 
following summer, on the nomination of President Pepper, Mr. 
Small was elected as the latter's successor to the presidency of 
Colby University. In 1892 he was invited by President Harper 
to the headship of the department of Sociology in the University 
to be founded at Chicago. He accepted the position, beginning 
his work in the following October. Since that time he has been 
engaged as an instructor of graduate students, as a writer upon 
the subject of Sociology, and as editor of the American Journal 
of Sociology, which is now entering upon its twenty-first annual 
volume. His chief books are : "General Sociology," published 
m 1905; "Adam Smith and ^lodern Sociology," 1907; "The 
Cameralists,'' 1909; "The Meaning of Social Science," 1910, and 
"Between Eras," 1913. The degree of LL.D., was conferred 
upon him by Colby College in 1900. His only child is Mrs. 
Hayden B. Harris, whose husband is a member of the firm of 
Harris, Forbes & Company, New York City. 




Albion W. Small, LL.D. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 281 

SEBA SMITir. 

Next to Governor Long, the most famous son of Buckfield is 
Seba Smith, the younger, who was born here, according to the 
town records, Sept. 14, 1792. His father's family moved to 
Jjuckfield from Turner shortly after the first United States census 
was taken in 1790. The births of four children are recorded here 
— the last in 1796. The family removed to Bridgton probably at 
llie same time as did Samuel Andrews who was a connection by 
marriage. That was in 1799. The census of 1800 shows that 
both families resided in Bridgton at that tinie. We have been 
tlius particular as to the poet's birth, because it is said that his 
gravestone states that he was born in 1802. This may be an error 
in copying or a typographical error, but in any event is not cor- 
rect. Young Smith before he left Buckfield showed the bent of 
his mind toward literature. It is said that his uncle, Lieut. Jasiel 
Smith and his grandmother, Anna Grossman Smith, had great 
influence in determining his future literary eminence. He 
worked his way through the high and preparatory schools and 
also through college and graduated at Bowdoin in 1818 and settled 
in Portland, where he went into journalism. In 1823 he married 
Aliss Elizabeth (Jakes Prince of Yarmouth, a lady of literary 
tastes and accomplishments, who became more famous as a writer 
of poetry, one would think from reading the encyclopedias than 
her husband. In 1829 Seba Smith began the publication of the 
Portland Gourier, the first daily newspaper in Maine. Into its 
columns one by one, almost unnoticed, at first, appeared many lit- 
tle gems of poetry, and some of these were considered of sui^cient 
literary merit to be reproduced in the school readers of a later 
period. One was a scene the poet witnessed while a boy in his 
native town. The burying ground connected with it is situate"d on 
the Paris Hill road in the westerly i)art of the town. His poetical 
productions were overshadowed by the "Major Jack Downing 
Letters" that began to appear in the Gourier, and which caught 
the popular fancy so that the author soon found himself famous. 
^Ir. Smith was the originator of that class of literature, later so 
well represented by 1\ \'. Xaseby, Josh Billings and Artemus 
Ward. The latter particularly took Smith as his model. Smith 
removed to Xew York where he thought to have a wider sco]:)e for 
his abilities. His "Way Down Ea.st" though widely read, did not 
equal the interest aroused by the Downing Letters. He wrote be- 



282 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

sides these, which appeared in book form, other works. His later 
career did not attract so much notice in the literary world as his 
earlier course had done. He died in 1868 and is buried near the 
little village of Patchogue. Long Island. A dozen years ago it 
was called by a New York newspaper reporter, "an abandoned 
graveyard of the long ago." On a storm-worn marble slab, about 
four feet high and three feet wide, was the following inscription : 

"Sacred to the iiicinory of 

Sf.b.\ Smith, 

Poet and Scholar. 

Born in Elaine. September 14th, 1802. 

Died in Patchogue. July 2Sth, 186S. 

He graduated at r)Owdoin College in 

1818, and was the original 

"Major Jack Downing." 

Also author of "Way Down East," of 

"New Elements of Geometry," 

"Powhatan," and many other 

works. 

He was well beloved !" 



HOX. FRAXCIS O. J. SMITH. 

Francis Ormond Jonathan Smith was born at Brentwood, X. 
H., Xov. 2;^, 1806. He fitted for college at Exeter and was pre- 
pared to enter a junior class but instead of taking a college course 
he began the study of the law. His parents having removed to 
Portland, Me., he completed his legal studies in the office of Fes- 
senden & Deblois. The senior member of the firm was (ien. 
Samuel Fessenden, one of the very best lawyers in the state at that 
period. He afterwards became the leader of the "Liberty Party"' 
and for several years was its candidate for governor. Smith was 
admitted to the Cumberland Bar in March. 1826, before he was 
twenty years old and at once took a leading position among the 
lawyers of the state and acquire^l an extensive practice. 

He became intensely interestetl in politics and espousing the 
cause of Gen. Andrew Jackson for President in 1828 he contrib- 
uted many pungent articles to the press under the nom de plume 
of "Leonidas." These writings attracted wiile attention. As in 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 283 

1824 Maine voted in 1828 for John Ouincy Adams for President, 
but the State then voting by districts for electors, the Cumber- 
land district was carried for Jackson, principally through Smith's 
efforts. Besides his attacks upon the Adams administration 
through the newspapers. Smith had taken the stump, where he 
showed himself well adapted for such political work. 

General Jackson was elected, though John Ouincy Adams' ad- 
ministration had been most successful financially and a large sur- 
plus was accumulated in the United States Treasury which was 
afterwards distributed to the different towns throughout the 
country. John Ouincy Adams was our most learned President. 

In 183 1 Smith was elected to the lower house of the Maine 
Legislature and the next year to the Senate. The Presidential 
election of 1832 aroused all Smith's energies. He assisted in the 
organization of Jackson clubs, addressed meetings and was a pro- 
lific writer for the "'Eastern Argus" which was recognized as the 
leading Jackson organ in Xew England and was called by the 
national leaders of the party, "The Star in the East," which after 
the election when Maine had first been carried by the Jackson 
party was applied to the state. Smith was rewarded by an elec- 
tion to Congress, then in his 26th year. He was twice re-elected. 
Before he had attained such prominence in politics, he had pub- 
lished several works and a book against lotteries. This last pub- 
lication raised a storm of denunciation from the promoters of 
such schemes. 

While in Congress he was the Washington correspondent of 
the Argus and at different times was connected with several 
newspapers, two of which he started. Smith was chairman of 
the commerce committee of the National House and a resolve 
was submitted to it for an appropriation for a telegraph line be- 
tween the capital and the Xorthern cities — the first project of the 
kind in the world. Unfortunately, Smith became interested 
financially in establishing such lines in the country which forced 
him to give up his political career and tied up his resources and 
involved him in litigation, thus preventing his carrying out other 
projects and particularly in regard to the Buckfield Branch Rail- 
road, elsewhere fully treated. The suit he had brought in the 
telegraph matter was not determined till after his death when a 
judgment was rendered for his estate for nearly half a million of 
dollars. With such a sum at his command when he took up his 



284 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

residence in the fifties in Buckfield, no sucli lamentable conse- 
quences, with the financial distress and ruin to so many of its citi- 
zens would have occurred. In 1840, Smith re-entered politics as 
an opponent of his party's policy and the astonishing result of 
Maine going that year "hell-bent" for Governor Edward Kent, 
and "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too" has been attributed largely to 
Smith's efforts and influence. The earl) death of President Har- 
rison and the defection of Tyler to the pa-ty"s political enemies, 
prevented Smith being appointed .to a high position. In 1848 
Smith again came into public notice as a champion of Gen. 
Zachary Taylor for President who was elected but Maine did not 
as in 1840 follow Smith's lead — the Liberty ])arty polling a suf- 
ficient number of votes to prevent it. For several years after 
this, Smith appears to have taken no part in politics, but when 
the country began to ring with the shouts of "Freemen, Fremont 
and Dayton" in 1856, he espoused the popular cause which was 
defeated by the vote of Pennsylvania being given f some said by 
unfair means) to James Buchanan. When the Rebellion broke 
out in 1861, Smith appears to have had little faith in the govern- 
ment being able to preserve the L'nion by force of arms and hav- 
ing been elected to the Legislature from Portland where he had 
removed from Buckfield, lie advocated in a speech of great elo- 
quence, that in the event of the Southern States succeeding, 
Maine should be annexed to Canada. He had purchased the 
Portland Advertiser and as its editor he took position against the 
vigorous prosecution of the war and in favor of settling the dif- 
ferences between the North and South by compromise. It was 
the great mistake of Smith's political life. The loyal business 
men of Portland resented his course and that of Hon. George 
Evans, a former Whig L'nited States Senator often called the 
Daniel W^ebster of Maine, who entertained views similar to 
Smith's, and the Portland Press was established. Both these 
great men disappeared from public view anrl thousands of people 
to-day in our state scarcely know anything about them. 

As a lawyer in the conduct of cases in court. Smith had few 
equals and no superior. As a writer he was clear in expression, 
energetic and forcible and possessed just the style to catch and 
hold the popular interest, especially in a great crisis, when the 
passions of men are excited by real or fancied wrongs. As a 
speaker, he had a grace of manner, a charm of delivery, an easy 




Benj. Spaulding, Jr. 




Ben Spaulding 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 287 

flow of language and a clear and melodious voice. He could 
move his hearers to denunciation or pity ; to laughter or to tears. 
Before prejudice had destroyed confidence in him, there was no 
man in Maine who could sway an assembly with equal force. 

His public career is an interesting study for old and young. 
In some respects he reminds one of Aaron Burr, but unlike Burr 
he would always lead in whatever matter he was engaged and 
could bear no rivalry. He was the truest of friends, but the 
sternest of mortal foes. Of charming manners and of extensive 
general information he was always a social favorite, l^robably 
as an all-round man, writer, speaker, lawyer, business man and 
politician, he had not his equal in his day in Xew England. On 
his 2 1 St birthday, Mr. Smith had married Miss Julia L. Bartlett 
of Kingston, X. H., an accomplished and beautiful lady of fine 
literary attainments. People of culture found in their " Forest 
Home" in Deering, near Portland, an attract -ve resort. She died 
in 1853 and he afterwards married Miss Ellen Groton of Bath. 
He died Oct. i4, 1876 from heart disease and was buried in the 
Eastern cemetery, Portland. He had caused to be cut on a city 
missionary's monument the following which was undoubtedly his 
ideas of man's duty to man : 

"Peace on Earth to ]\Ien of Good Will." 

REN JAM IX SPAULOIX(;, JR. 

Benjamin Spaukling, Jr., was born in Chelmsford, Mass., 
August 15. 1768. He moved with his father's family to Buck- 
town when ten years old. His first wife was Myrtilla Robinson 
of Sumner, daughter of Increase and Rebecca Robinson. They 
were married Oct. 15, 1790 and settled in the village on the road 
leading to Paris Hill. The house they lived in is said to be the 
first frame house in the place. He was much in public life. For 
many years he held the offices of treasurer and one of the board 
of selectmen and assessors of the town. He was unanimously 
elected representative to the General Court in 18 12 and was re- 
elected in 1813, 1814, 181 5 and 1816. He was also elected repre- 
sentative to the Legislature of ]\Iaine in 1821, 1823, 1824 and 
1827. He served a term as county commissioner. His wife died 
Oct. I, 1816 and he married .second, Mrs. Mary (Sturtevant) 
Bumpus, Xov. 6, 1817. He had nine children, seven by his first 



288 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

wife ami two by his last. Three of his children were much in 
town office and two of them were town clerks. He died Feb. i8, 
1858 in the 90th year of his age. 

The Gospel Banner printed an obituary notice from which the 
following" is taken: "Xo man ever lived in the town more re- 
spected, venerated and beloved and none ever died more generally 
lamented than Father Spaulding. He was prudent and temperate 
in all his habits. He was honest in principle, pure in mind and 
motive and of strict integrity. He possessed a mild and amiable 
disposition and was always seeking to make those around him 
happy. His habitual uprightness, honesty, goodness and ability 
secured him the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, who 
many times raised him to the highest honors and offices within 
their gift. These offices he filled with honor to himself and with 
credit and usefulness to his constituents." 



BEX J AM IN SPAULDlXi.;. 

Benjamin Spaulding, oldest son of Sidney and Eliza G. (^At- 
wood) Spaulding, was born in Buckfield, June 15, 1836. He 
married Mary Barrett of Sumner. ^Ir. Spaulding did not seek 
his fortune away from his native town. He early began business 
as a trader and has been very successful. For many years he 
was in company with Dea. W'm. H. Atwood and since the latter 
has deceased, the business has been carried on by ]\Ir. Spaulding 
and his two promising sons, Benjamin, J'-'-, and Gilbert Barrett 
Spaulding. Mr. Spaulding has held several town offices. Hfs 
integritv is proverbial. Xo man now living in Buckfield is more 
highly respected and honored. 



willta:m c. spauldixc. 
William Cole Spaulding, tiiird son and fourth child of Sidney 
and Elza G. (Atwood) Spaulding. was born in Buckfield, June 
18, 1841. He was brought up on his father's farm, but on reach- 
ing his niajoritv he went to Fort Fairfield in Aroostook County 
and engaged in the hardware business. In July, 1865. he mar- 
ried Lovina Jane, daughter of John Sterling, Esq., of Halifax, 
Xova Scotia and two years after they settled in Caribou where he 
has since resided. }*lrs. Spaulding was born in Halifax, April 




William C. Spaulding 




Cyrus C. Spaulding 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 291 

14, 1842, and died, ]March 31, 1904. William C. Spaulding is one 
of the solid men of Eastern Maine. He has followed the same 
business in which he first started and has been eminently success- 
ful. Of high character and sterling worth, he is an honor to the 
town which gave him birth and the community in which he lives. 

He died quite suddenly at his home July 6, 191 5, deeply 
lamented by all who knew him. No better man ever lived. 

He had two children, John Sterling, born July 21, 1869. He 
married Harriet Louise Burpee of Fort Fairfield. He died at 
Caribou, Dec. 15, 1896. His other son, Atwood W. Spaulding, 
was born in Caribou, Jan. 6, 1873. He graduated at Columbia 
Institute. X. Y., in 1892 and on his return home, engaged in the 
hardware business with his father. In 1898 during the Spanish 
war he was military secretary of Governor Powers, which posi- 
tion he filled in a very able manner. He is a member of all the 
principal secret societies of his section and is very popular with 
all classes. 

COL. ALBERT D. WHITE. 

Albert D. White, son of Josiah and Rachel (Robbins) White 
of Dedham, Mass., was born in B>eedom, ]\Ie., July 17, 1808. He 
came to Buckfield from Winthrop and engaged in the tanning 
business. He married April 2, 1837, Miss Lydia B. Harlow of 
this town. Mr. \Miite was an energetic and a resolute man and 
being naturally fitted to command usually succeeded in accom- 
plishing whatever he undertook. He rose from private in the 
militia to the rank of colonel. As an officer of the law, he had 
scarcely his equal in the county. In politics. Col. White was a 
Whig and later a Republican and upon him, Zadoc Long, the 
leader of the Whigs in this section of the state in the thirties and 
forties largely depended to carry out the party projects and keep 
the party machinery in good working order. When the Whig 
overturn in IMaine occurred in 1840 by the election of Hon. Ed- 
ward Kent for governor, Col. White was rewarded by the ap- 
pointment of sheriff of the county. His administration was vig- 
orus and effective, especially in the enforcement of the liquor 
laws. Fearless in the discharge of duty, he won a reputation for 
faithful service that lasted him through life. The defeat of 
Henry Clay for President in 1844 was a severe blow to Col. 
White and to Zadoc Long. 



292 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 




Col. Albert D.White 



After many years of successful business as a tanner he sold 
out to Mr. Josiah W. Whitten and bought the farm above the vil- 
lage where Abijah Buck, the founder of the town had settled. 
Here Col. White passed the last years of his life. He died Dec. 
13, 1887. His wife died July 17, 1891. They had three chil- 
dren: (i), Julia O., born Feb. 7, 1841, married Rev. S. L. B. 
Chase and had four children, Albert W., Harold L., William B., 
and Alice W., all deceased except Wm. B. Chase, who resides in 
Thompson, Conn. She died May 18, 1893. (2), Alice M., born 
July 31, 1845, died March 16, 1871. (3), E. Frances, born June 
7, 185 1, married June 30. 1880, Elmer B. Austin of Buckfield and 
has six children : Albert W., born Aug. 9, 1882 ; Harold C, born 
Oct. 10, 1883, died July 30. 1887; Grace J., born July 6, 1885; 
Edward J., born Dec. 11, 1887, died Oct. 10, 1888; L. Bessie, born 
May 4, 1889 and Melinda H., born Xov. 12, 1890. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 293 

CHAPTER XXI. 
BucKFiELD Poets. 

ALFRED COLE. 

(See Sketch) 
Convalescence. 

How beautiful is the world ! 
After the weeks in a dreary round, 
Wliile I, a helpless prisoner bound, 

On my lonely bed have lain. 
With the weariness of day and night, 
.And only glimpses of sun and light. 

Thru the blur of the window pane. 

Oh, the deep blue sky and the blessed air! 
Oh, the glorious sunshine everywhere, 

And the bird-songs in the trees ! 
Blossoming orchards and fields of green — 
Was ever before such freshness seen? 

Or such sweetness hatinting the breeze? 

I see the flash of the oriole's wings 

In the leaves of the lofty elm. where he sings 

His joy to the sunlit hours; 
And idly I watch the swallows fly 
And list to the droning luUabj- 
Of bees in the garden flowers. 

Passersby I note as one in a dream- 
How sprightly and full of vigor they seem. 

While I in weakness remain; 
And I sigh and wonder if ever, or when 
I may walk as of old with iny fellowmen, 

And my tenure of life-work regain. 

Yet how beautiful is the world! 
Throbbing with life and bright with cheer. 
Thrilling with promise and hopes of the year — 

There can be no fairer place 
Than Earth, when its springtide voices call 
And Heaven seems bending over all 

With a tender, smiling face. 

Children .\nd Flowers. 
Flowers, gathered from fields and the valleys 

And borders of country ways. 
With ferns from the wildwood alleys 
Come to brighten my shut-in days : 
For they bring the sweet breath from the days that 

are long, 
The murmur of bees and the bobolink's song. 



294 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Bright-eyed and with faces glowing. 

Little children before me stand, 
Each on me some flower-gift bestowing 

With a sun-browned, chubby hand ; 
And my heart is touched with a tender thrill 
B}^ these offerings sweet of their own free-will. 

Thus, while summer is weaving its story. 

Oft these little gleaners I see; 
Gifts, fairer than Solomon's glory, 

They are modestly bringing to me : 
Blessings upon you, my little friends, 
For the sweetness of life that your presence lends. 



MARY HART CUMMIXGS. 

Mary Hart Cummings, wife of Dea. AMiitney Cummings. was 
daughter of Henry Prentiss of North Paris and his wife, Mary 
Hart and was born January 26, 1807. She died in Buckfield, 
February 18-, 1878. While a mere girl she began to write for the 
County paper, then the Oxford Observer, and all through life 
was an acceptable contributor both in prose and verse to the Ox- 
ford Democrat, the Portland Transcript and Zion's Herald. She 
also wrote a number of successful stories which were published in 
the Philadelphia Courier. She- had a facile pen, an excellent ear 
for rhythm and rhyme, much genuine poetic feeling, and great 
human sympathy. Unfortunately her work was not preserved 
with any care and even her descendants have little of it. She 
wrote sometimes under her own name but more commonly under 
the name of Oithona. The following is taken from the "Poets of 
Maine :"" 

Reveries. 

^ly child will come no more, 

^h- ministries of love 

Are changed for those above — • 

The little journey of his life is o er. 

^ly young and happy boy — 

I see his glad step springing, 

I hear his sweet voice singing. 

And yet these mem'ries bring no thrills of joy. 

I see his garments hang 

In many a spot — 

How can he be forgot, 

Tho' every mem'ry brings tJTe heart a pang! 



HISTORY OF BCCKFIKLD 295 

But why these restless clays? 

Tlic promises are mine ; 

I hear a voice divine 

Call on my soul a sovereign God to praise. 

'Tis vain to change the scene — 

From each sequestered nook. 

His little treasures look: 

I cannot wander wiicre he hasn't been. 

Why spend my hours in gloom, 

Or weep for treasures gone, 

When I am hurrying on 

To join them in a world beyond the tomb? 

Spring's glorious sunbeams stream, 

.And brightly do they fall, 

Alike on floor and wall ; 

But my lost boy looks out on every beam. 

My cherished one is there, 

He spends his glorious days, 

In songs of holy praise 

To Him who heard on earth his daily prayer. 

I turn my eyes above. 

But tears will force their way 

E'en when I strive to pray — 

Is there no place of rest for earthly love? 

Then let my heart arise 

To his bright home above, 

.And to the God of love 

Look for a blessing on "Earth's broken tics." 



COLUMBIA GARDNER 
(See Sketch) 

Thf. Olo C.mheur.^l Bell. 

How many nieni'ries crowded fast. 

As on my ear it fell ; 
Those melting tones to childhood dear. 

That old cathedral bell. 

Long years had passed and childhood, too. 

But youth had thrown its spell ; 
.Around each cliord that echoed back. 

That old cathedral bell. 



296 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

'Twas here a mother taught me first, 
My simple prayer to tell ; 

And here I bowed, whene'er it rang, 
That old cathedral bell. 

How oft — full eft, it sadly peals, 
The mourner's grief to tell ; 

And yet it cheers the bridal band. 
That old cathedral bell. 

I hear it now, it speaks of home, 
Where dear and loved ones dwell ; 
And brings my happy childhood back, 
That old cathedral bell. 

It comes again, that deep-toned chime! 

It breaks o'er hill and dell ; 
It calls the huntsman to his home, 

Tliat old cathedral bell. 

O may it ring me to my home, 
And chant the parting knell ; 

And sing the requiem, o'er my tomb. 
That old cathedral l)ell. 

For I could calmly, sweetly die. 

If on my ear it fell ; 
And half I wish 'twas tolling now. 

That old cathedral liell. 



My Mother. 

I\Iy mother ! O how much J love 

To speak that clierislied name: 

My mother! tliougli thou canst not hear. 

Its music is the same. 

A destiny, I know that's strange. 
Has from thee, 1)id me roam; 
'^'et I ^.a^ e but to ^-jieak thy name. 
And Fancy wafts ;ne ln>me. 

M\' mother ! 'twas the earliest sound, 
y\y infancy Cduld learn ; 
And ever as I iiear it lisped. 
Those joyous hour?, return. 

And when in listening wonder stood, 
A prattler by tliy knee ", 
I ever thought the world was where 
M\- mother cluiiiced to be. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



297 



My mother ! ^-es that very sound, 

Can make me quite forget ; 

How much tliy daughter's heart has felt, 

Since last thy smile she met. 

My mother I When my heart is sad. 
And silent steals the tear; 
I'll softly breathe thy gentle name, 
And feel that thou art near. 



Cf.ARA MARCELI.E GREENK. 

Clara Alarcelle Greene, the youngest child of the 3(1 Dea. 
David Farrar, was born in Buckfield, Me., April 17, 1840. She 
is the great-great-granddaughter of Anna Grossman Smith, the 
grandmother of Seba Smith, Jr., the author from whom he ap- 
pears to have inherited his literary tastes. Miss Farrar began 
writing under the nom de plume of " Kate Kendall." She opened 
an art studio in Portland in 1870. Some of her poems, particu- 
larly "Possession" and "The Magdalen" have been highly prized 
for their dramatic qual'.ty. She married 'Sir. W'yer Greene of 
Portland, where thcv have resided manv years. 




Clara Marcelle Greene 

In Bonds. 
Hedge a lion in liis lair, 
Bind him fast with leash and thonj 
Muscles qui\er. eyeballs glare. 
Nerves and thews wax iron strong; 
Mad with fury and despair. 
He will rage against his wrong. 
With his bonds and fiery heart, 
S])irit ! This is what thou an. 



298 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Cage an eagle, maim his wings. 

Seek to tame his dauntless eye; 

Teach him songs, the linnet sings, 

Tell him to forget the sky ; 

Tell him Hight brings arrow-stings, 

He must soar or he will die. 

Beating pinion, eye of flame 
Spirit! Tliis is thou, the same. 

Mark the everlasting sea. 

Watch its mighty heart uplift ; 

O'er its bosom, liroad and free. 

Fleets may ride and wrecks may drift. 

Aye, storms may rage : — what recketh thee. 

Boundless freedom is thy gift, 

"Spirit, wait," it nnirmurs thee 

"Eternity — Eternity." 



DANA 15. HARLOW 



Dana Bradbury Harlow, son of Chri$to])hcr and Aliriam (Far- 
rar) Harlow was born in l^iucktield in 1854. His education was 
acquiretl in the town schools at Hebron Academy and at Hamil- 




Daiui B. Harlow 

ton, X. Y., Theological Seminary. He ea'd}- evinced a talent tor 
composition, both in poetr}- and prose. Has written much for the 
press and is soon to issue a volume of his poems. Is an elocu- 
tionist of ability anil for many years ha>; been a successful teacher. 
Several years aiio he UKived to Paris where he now resides. 



HISTORY OF BLCKFIELD 



'lUU 



The Boys ix Blue. 



Oh. green the robe that Nature 
wears. 
Bespangled o'er with flowers. 
And birds and brooks are sing- 
ing low 
Through amaranthine bowers. 
And .soon the loved Memorial 
Day 
Will fresher call to view 
The never-dying names and 
deeds 
Of our loyal boys in blue. 

Full many a soldier sleeps to- 
day 

In Southern lands at rest; 
Where white magnolia blos.soms 
fall 

Above his faithful breast. 
And many others, all unknown. 

Their comrades brave and true. 
Been laid to rest at Arlington, 

Of the loyal boys in blue. 



Oh, dark the day that called 
them forth 

By Freedom's side to stand. 
For them to die, if need be so — 

For God and native land. 
Ye bands of happy children fair. 

This day was meant for you. 
Bring flowers from all the vir- 
gin bowers. 

For the loyal boys in blue. 

And scatter them upon the turf 
That gently wraps them 
round. 
For each known spot where they 
repose 
To us is hallowed ground. 
Oh, maidens twine the ever- 
green. 
Fresh with the morning's 
dew. 
And white, unfading immor- 
telles 
For the loyal boys in blue. 



ABBIE Cn\.SE HOF-PROOK. 

Abbie (Chase) Holbrook is the daughter of Hon. Thomas and 
Esther M. f Daggett » Chase and was born in Buckfield, Oct. 2^, 
1839. She married Wm. C. Holbrook and resides at Maiden, 
Mass. 

The Old Sol'th Hill School HftusE. 

Again I climb the old South Hill; 

Stands there the time-stained schoolhouse still ; 

Unchanged, its windows blankly stare, 

The walls their mildewed clapboards wear; 

And rusting in its ancient grooves 

The noisy door-latch stiffly moves 

As when we pressed it, years ago. 

To cross the threshold, broad and low. 

In rows the vacant benches stand, 
And, frescoed o'er in school-boy hand, 
The plastered walls disfigured rise. 
As when they met my childish eyes; 
And, fronting all the master's throne 
In state majestic, stands alone; 
Le*s awful now than when we heard. 



300 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

For saucy prank, the threat'ning word 
From him who tried, with rod and frown, 
To keep our bubbling spirits down. 

Here sitteth one, a phantom fair. 
With tender eyes and nut-brown hair ; 
With outstretched arms and longing cry 
To clasp her close I vainly try. 
Alas ! she melteth in my grasp — 
My arms but empty air enclasp. 
Ah, me ! I know she sleeping lies. 
And well T know from her dear eyes 
No tender glance my own shall meet. 
Until her angel-self I greet. 

* * ^ * ^ 

Good-bye, old house. — dear haunt of mine. 
Where young I drank of life's new wine,- 
May rains fall gently on thy roof. 
May harsh winds keep from thee aloof, 
May winter snow fall soft and light. 
And fold tliee warm in mantle white, 
And Time deal gently with thee stiil. 
While thou dost stand on old Soutli Hill. 



JOHN X. IRISH. 

John X. Irish was born on North Hill in Bnckfield, January 
23, 1838. He was christened Jonathan Xelson, but has always 
been called John. His education was obtained in the district 
school on South Hill and the high school in the village. He be- 
gan teaching- at the age of eighteen — his first school being taught 
in the Lothrop school house. His sister, Emily, also taught her 
first school there. The writer of this sketch attended as a pupil 
and has ever since held them both in grateful remembrance. In 
his 20th year AFr. Irish went to Kentucky to teach and was at- 
tacked with a serious illness which came near proving fatal. His 
father went there and brought him to his home in Rumford, he 
having in the meantime sold the old Duckfield homestead and pur- 
chased another in that town — where his good mother nursed him 
back to health. After recovery he worked on the farm summers, 
teaching winters, writing and occasionally lecturing. 

His father having died, Mr. Irish retm-ned with his mother to 
his native town, where he settled down on a small place, a mile 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 801 

below the village on the Turner road. He has always been an 
ardent lover of the drama and dramatic poetry and for many years 
has been a large contributor of wit and wisdom to the weekly 
county papers under the pseudonym of "John." For years these 
have held the interest of the general reader. 'Mr. Irish has al- 
ways been a sturdy advocate of Temperance, education and all 
moral reforms. His jxDems are characterized for their pathos and 
sentiment. He died at the home of his brother, Henry D. Irish, 
Nov. I, 1913. 

Evelyn. 

Fallen asleep, in the flush of the morning, 
On green sunny slope of life's mystical hill : 

Weariness came in her youth's early dawning, 

Her tired hands fell, and her young heart is still. 

Sweet in her rest 'neath the wide spreading willow, 
Undisturbed by the tread of the world passing by ; 

Death scattered poppy leaves under her pillow. 
Yet she can't awaken to smile or to sigh. 

Fairiest of maidens, all others excelling; 

She had dawned in my soul like a beautiful star ; 
Light shone again in my long darkened dwelling. 

Faith and love entered which had lingered afar. 

Vanished from sight and now aimless, I wander, 
A grave in my heart and a grave by the sea ; 

Is there a land and a home over yonder, 
With the blessings of life for my darling and me? 



HON. JOHN D. LOXG. 
(See Sketch) 

Forefathers' Hymn sung at Plymouth Celebration, 1882. 

ThK PlLGHIM. 

Almighty God, to thee we raise 

Our hj-mns of thankfulness and praise, 

Within the hollow of whose hand 

The Pilgrim sought his promised land : — 

Not the rich pastures of the vine 
Flowing with honey, milk and wine. 
But bleak shores swept by storm and sea. 
His rude sole welcome — thou art free! 



302 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

With corn he wooed the sullen soil. 
But more with learning, home and toil, 
Till now no vineyard of the sun 
Blooms like the wilderness he won. 

Inspired by faith, in purpose great. 
He steadfast set his church and state; 
Made them to stand 'gainst flood and shock. 
For both ho built upon the rock. 

One taught — to God and conscience true — 
]More light to seek, tlie right to do: 
The other broadeneil to the span 
Of man's equality with man. 

Children of fathers such as he, 

Re ours liis true nobility! 

Lortl of the realm, lie served its growth ; 

To serve — be still the freeman's oath ! 



The Mountains of Maine. 

1 ne'er shall forget when returning one day 

To my home 'mid the mountains of Maine, 
\\'hen tlie sununer was nigh and the fair hand of May 

Was bedecking the country again. 
What a thrill of delight, inexpressibly sweet, 

I felt while extending my gaze 
O'er the scenes, un forgotten, where often my feet 

Had rambled in earlier days. 

\\'hat a welcoming look I imagined I found 

In the old streaked mountains in view. 
In the quick-flowing streams, and meatlows elm-crowned. 

And the lields clothed in summer's briglit hue. 
How the full honest breeze I had tasted so oft, 

With health and with vigor o'erladen. 
Swept over my cheek with a touch that was soft 

As the smooth, velvet hand of a maiden. 

My soul swelled with joy, springing up to the skies 

With the view that was spread out before it ; 
Then, deeper emotions beginning to rise, 

A feeling of sadness came o'er it : 
For I knew from these scenes of my boyhood around me, 

The lakes, and the woods and the plain, 
I must part and dissever the ties that had bound me 

So long to the mountains of Maine. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 303 

Xezinscot. 
Returned from years of rack and toil, 

Escaped from fetter-locks of care, 
Again I walk my native soil. 

Again I breathe my native air. 

The snow is on the circling hills ; 

The crisp smoke curls its morning tress; 
My heart with old-time freedom fills, 

I feel again its restfulness. 

Beside bright hearths with clustering friends. 

We live our memories back once more ; 
Too soon the winter evening ends ; — 

It can recall but not restore. 

At the Fireside. 
At nightfall by the firelight's cheer 
My little Margaret sits me near. 
And begs me tell of things that were 
When I was little, just like her. 

Ah, httle lips ! you touch the spring 
Of sweetest sad remembering. 
And heart and hearth flash all aglow 
With ruddy tints of long ago. 

I at my father's fireside sit. 
Youngest of all who circle it. 
And beg him tell me what did he 
When he was little, just like me. 

The Flag. 
Like the grass swayed to and fro 
Over which the breezes go. 
Like long tresses tumbling down 
Rippling up from foot to crown. 

Like billows rolling on the ocean. 
Our glorious flag floats full and free. 
Its matchless hues now interfuse. 
And now swell wide against the tide 
That bloats its straining canopj-; 
Like smoke it wreathes in rills, and breathes 
Its fainting blaze into the haze. 
And slowly palpitates until 
It lures the eye as if it still 
Went rippling further through the sky — 

The very poetry of motion I 



304 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Emblem thou of liberty ! 

Banner of the brave and free ! 

Stars and stripes ! Red. white and blue ! 

Old Thirteen, new Thirty-two ! 

Afloat aloft on land or ocean. 
There's not an eye with tears untraoed 
That sees thy glory in the sky ; 
There's no true heart that would not die 
To keep thy scroll, no stripe erased, 
Xo star obscured, still floating high ; 
There's no man. worthy to be free, 
Who doth not look and cling to thee 

With all a patriot's devotion. 



ZADOC LONG. 
(See Sketch) 

Mv Old Violin. 
While evening's dim folds round me gather fast, 

And the chill breezes chant a low moan. 
My fancy is busy with scenes of the past, 

As I sit by my fireside alone. 

The group that once cheered me aft'ection recalls ; 

Beloved ones I ask, where are they? 
My own voice comes back from the echoing walls, 

And sadly repeats — Where are they? 

A sound like a serenade, plaintive and sweet. 

An almost inaudible strain. 
Now rises and swells into tones more complete, 

Now sinks away softly again. 

It seems like the spirit of many a lay — 

A voice from the past that I hear, 
In lingering cadences dying awa\-. 

On memory's faltering ear. 

Or the music of dreams in the stillness of night, 

By some spirit guardian sung: — 
'Tis the air through the cracks, and the vibrations 
slight 

Of my old violin, all unstrung. 

How many a cherished remembrance it brings 
Of dear friends and pastimes of yore ; 

A sorrowful touch on the heart's shattered strings. 
That soon will respond never more. 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 805 

To THE RoniN. 
Sing away, robin, thou gay little tiling ; 
Thy melody heralds the coming of spring ; 
Bright verdure is spreading oer meadow and tree, 
And buds leafing out where thy dwelling shall be. 
Where the air shall be vocal till summer shall fade, 
At morning, and eve, with thy sweet serenade. 
Then sing, robin, sing, sound thy notes loud and long; 
Our hearts fill with love as we list to thy song. 
The sun, all unclouded, is opening the day ; 
O. sing, merry bird, while the dew melts away; 
The earth Avears a smile at the charm of thy voice. 
The echoing groves and the valleys rejoice ; 
The zephyrs breathe blandly, the light branches bend. 
Their delicate rustlings in harmony blend ; 
The tinkling of bells, and the brooks, lend a chime. 
And with thy sweet warbling all nature keeps time. 
Then sing away, robin, thou beautiful bird, 
With grateful emotions our hearts shall be stirred, 
And joy shall abound where thy music is heard. 

Horror.'^ of Winter. 
(1841) 
Hoar winter rules with awful might 

The trembling world below ; 
We have to wallow day and night 

Up to our knees in snow. '' 

The frosty atmosphere is rife 

With epidemics dire ; 
We can"t keep warm to save our life 

So many round the fire, 
When midnight darkness veils the world 

With shadows cold and drear. 
When puss lies in the corner curled. 

And bose is growling near. 
When in the yielding downy bed 

Our weary bodies sink, 
The rats so noisy overhead 

We cannot sleep a wink, 
What dismal fancies haunt our souls. 

And thrilling scenes of woe ! 
How much those brutes that have no holes, 

Poor devils, undergo. 
Our dreams are filled with warnings dread; 

And when Aurora wakes. 
We fvnd our likeliest lambs are dead 

And frozen stiff as stakes. 



306 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Thick robes of ice and fetters chill 

The earth's broad surface bind ; 
The naughty urchins slide down hill 

And tear their clothes behind. 
When rising storms the heavens begird 

And mortals stand aghast. 
When rattling window-blinds are heard 

Above the loudest blast ; 
When furious winds the valleys sweep. 

And rend the mountain oak. 
When chimney currents downward leap 

And till the house with smoke : 
And men of dauntless spirit pause 

Their gushing tears to stay. 
And women scold like fiends because 

Their clothes are blown away. — 
Oh how we long in scenes like these 

For summer's milder reign. 
When striped squirrels leap the trees 

And thistles bloom again — 
Once more to range the hills and glens. 

O'er verdant lawns to stray, 
And hear the cackling of the hens 

When they begin to lay : 
When radiant suns and lucid skies 

And myriad warblers greet us. 
And lightning bugs and butterflies 

And legions of musketoes ; 

And divers flowers abound. 
And turkeys gobble as we pass 

Their happy roosting groimd. 

Come, gentle spring, the • earth renew 

With showers and shadowing roses 
Before all flesh turn black and blue 

And thousands lose their noses. 
If winter's reign much longer time 

Continue thus to vex us 
One-half the folks will curse the clime 

And emigrate to Texas. 



CirARLES CARROLL LORING. 
vSee Sketch* 

The Beating of the R.\in. 
I lay the book aside, I tr^- to pierce the gloom 

And turn my weary- eyes That swallows half the plain. 

To the river's rolling tide. Xo sound invades the room 

And the overhanging skies. But the beating of the rain. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



307 



Yes, the river murmurs low, 
Like a spirit under pain, 
In its ever onward flow 
To the waters of the main. 

But for these a silence deep 
All the valley seems to fill, 
Flowers of the garden sleep, 
The singing birds are still. 

I hear no echoing feet, 
Nor din of moving wain ; 
No noise comes off the street 
But the beating of the rain. 

I love the soothing sound, 
And monotonous refrain, 
That come from roof and ground, 
At the beating of the rain. 



I often think of thee. 
As the hours so slowly wane. 
Dost thou listen now like me 
To the beating of the rain? 

Though from me thou art gone, 
Thy pleasant looks remain; 
Still I hear thy tender tone 
In the beating of the rain. 

The day will shortly end, 
For the twilight shadows gain. 
Yet the river's murmurs blend 
With the beating of the rain. 

And the notes of yonder bell, 
From the steeple of the fane, 
For vespers lapse and swell 
'Midst the beating of the rain. 



WILT.\M WALLACE MAXIM. 

The .subject of this sketch is the 4th child of a remarkable fam- 
il)' and was born in Btickfield, Sept. 19, 1844. He was educated 
in the common and high schools of his native town and vicinity 
and early began writing for the newspapers and periodicals. He 
has been a voluminous writer on agricultural topics and has pro- 
duced many fine poems which he designs to produce in book form. 
For manv vears he has been a resident of Paris. 



Nezinscot. 

Sweet flowing stream, couldst thou but bear the sorrow 
Of those whose shores are washed with foaming crest 

On thy pale brow, what joy would come to-morrow 
To cheer these troubled ones and hush to rest ! 

Ah, many a lad has followed down the meadows. 
Close by thy side, and laughed and leaped with thee. 

When leaves were bursting from their Avinter garments, 
And all thy waves were hurrying to the sea. 

Maidens with flowing ringlets coming after. 
With rosy cheeks and merry laughing eyes, 

Have watched their faces mirrored in the water 
With waving branches and the bending skies. 



308 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Ceaselessly tlowing, though the winter's reigning 
Shut all thy sparkling glory from otu" view, 

We hear the sobbing and the low complaining. 
And long to greet thy silvery waves anew. 

Sad is the cadence when the heart is weary 
And all thy moaning seems to mock its pain ; 

When loved ones part, and all the world is drear\-. 
And winter binds us with its icy chain. 

Loved ones are laid to rest beside thy billows, 
And sobs and tears are mingled there with thine; 

And the same sun that shines among the willows, 
Glows on thy breast beneath the whispering pine. 

O, sobs and tears I O laughing, joyous river! 

The psalm of life can well be sung from thee. 
When the sun and bree;!e from all thy chains deliver. 

And set the smitten soul from sorrow free. 

My Retrospect. 

Once in my younger days I longed for fame. 
And swiftly ran, her form to catcli and hold ; 

She shied my grasp, I ran and called her name 
She answered — "Sold." 

I came to grief but conquered all its ills. 

And learned to love the cruel chastening rod ; 
I had grown patient cured by bitter pills. 

Nor walked abroad. 

She kr.ocked at length upon my hovel door 
And begged an entrance., bade me go with her. 

Out from the smoky walls and dusty lore 
Where shadows were. 

I said, my solitude is better far 

Than all thy pomp and pageantry and "tone," 
I have no fancy for thy glittering car. 

Leave me alone. 



AM AXOA :\IAXIM \'IXIX(1. 

Amanda Maxim \*ining- is the 6th child ot Capt. Benjamin and 
Susan (Harlow") ^[axim and was born Xov. 3. 1848. Both her 
parents had the natural gift of writing- poetry which this daughter 
with four others of the family, inherited. Her i^roductions are 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 311 

characterized bv simplicity of style, richness of tone and sweetness 
of rhythm. She married Mr. Bernard E. X'ining and now resides 

at Farmington, ^le. 

Stke.\ked Mountain. 
Where skies bend down with smiling glance 
O'er forest, hill and stream, 
O'er waters in the sunlight 
Flashing back an azure gleam, 
"Tis there with visage calm, serene, 
Xe'er heeding wind or storm, 
In grave and silent majesty 
Old Streaked rears his form. 

Ever the same ; Time's changes leave 

Xo furrows on his brow ; 

The grey old cliffs still beckon 

As in years long vanished now; 

And through his dim and shady groves 

The wild deer loves to roam, 

Above, where sweep their loftiest boughs 

The eagle has his home. 

Full many a time in days gone by 

Our youthful feet have strayed 

Through winding paths, o'er ledges bare, 

Alternate sun and shade. 

Til! high upon the rocky steeps 

We stood with bated breath 

And viewed the scene that stretched afar 

Our wondering gaze beneath. 

***** 
And long we tarried on the mount. 
Reluctant to depart; 
The wind of heaven upon our cheeks 
Life's joy in each young heart; 
Till s'liades of evening, falling fast. 
Warned us, without delay 
To seek again the twilight path, 
Adown the homeward way. 

Dream on. old crags and towers sublime! 

Dream on without a fear ; 

Though strangers deem unworthy 

All thy children hold so dear. 

And though we dwell in lands apart. 

Or roam the distant sea, 

With thoughts of pride our loyal hearts 

Still fondlv turn to thee. 



312 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Beautiful Evening Star. 

Musing alone in the silence 

After the close of day, 
yiy thoughts go out to the loved ones 

And friends who are far away. 
Faintlv the twilight glimmers 

Over the dusky walls. 
And into the gloom of my shadowy room 

The silvery starlight falls. 

Shine on, O heautiful star! 
Shine o'er the dear ones afar. 

Are they watching for thee, 

Are they thinking of me, 
O beautiful evening star? 

Sweet was the home-life together. 

Glad were the songs that we sung. 
There in the glow of the firelight 

When the day's labors were done. 
Some have gone out from its shelter, 

Life's sterner duties to share, 
And some are asleep where the low grasses creep. 

In a valley so sweet and fair. 

Softly, O beautiful star 

Shine on their i-est from afar — 

Shall we meet where no word 

Of farewell e'er is heard, 
O beautiful evening star? 



ROSE MAXIM. 

Rose ]\Iaxim, datighter of Capt. Benjamin and Stisan (Har- 
low) ]\Iaxim, was born in Buckfield, Aug. 30, 1850, the 7th of a 
family of ten children. Her oportunities for obtaining an edtica- 
tion were only what the district school afforded, but the family 
though living on a farm was an intellectual one, and good books 
and newspapers constantly found their way into the home. She 
commenced writing poetry very young. That she came to write 
real poetry and not simply rhymes, her productions demonstrate. 
When her two youngest sisters went to reside at Cambridge, 
Mass., she went there with them. While there she published a 
book of her poems. There can be no question of her taking rank 
with the very first of writers of poetry in !\Iaine. She died Feb. 
26, 1898, nuich lamented. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 313 

Prayer for the Nation ! 

Ruler Supreme, our help and consolation, 

Our King and Sovereign grand, 
To Thee we cry. Oh save this blood-bouglit nation 

By thine all-powerful hand. 
From every form of slavery and oppression. 
From every act of treason and secession. 
From unwise rulers, tyranny-, transgression, 

God save our native land. 

Grant that the blood poured out on fields of slaughter 

]\Iay not have been in vain; 
Grant that so many tears, that flowed like water. 

May not be shed again ; 
O patriots, heroes, mart\rs, gone before us, 
We trust that still ye too are watching o'er us. 
Help us as when through strife ye bravely bore us. 

Our flag without a stain. 

May human hands be strengthened, hearts united, 

For good not partisan ; 
For common interests, may these wrongs be righted 

By thine eternal plan. 
Crush out the wrong by one supreme endeavor; 
Break down our idols, from them let us sever ; 
Teach us but this — to know and feel forever — 

The brotherhood of man. 

And so amid the dark clouds and the breakers. 

Firm as a rock we'll stand. 
If, when the dangers threaten to o'ertakc us. 

We feel thy guiding hand. 
Oh, by that peace foretold in ancient story. 
By that good will proclaimed by prophets hoary. 
By justice, love, and liberty's true glory, 

God bless our native land ! 



A Wish. 

I wish that I could feel once more, 
The strength and joy of youth; 
For hope which is delusion 
Is happier than truth. 
Give me a beauteous spot where I 
Can on the greensward lie, 
O'ershadowed by the greenest boughs. 
Beneath the bright blue sky. 



314 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Forgetting all life's tumult there 
In solitude and peace. 
For living would be weariness, 
If love of Nature cease ; 
For human ills are many, 
And each must bear his sting, 
So would I be. where harmony 
Abounds in everything. 



MARY AND MARTHA MAXIM. 

Alary and ]\Iarlha ]\Iaxim, the yoitngest children of Capt. 
Benjamin and Susan (Harlow) Maxim, were born in Buckfield, 
April i6, 1857. While attending" the district school both began 
writing poetry and showed great aptitude for composition and 
drawing. They were easily first in their classes. Both were 
natural musicians and since leaving school took up music as a 
profession and have only occasionally written poetry. 

Several years after they moved to Cambridge, Alass., where 
they have since resided. Martha plays the violin with rare skill, 
as in fact any stringed instrument. Mary has devoted more time 
to drawing and pamting, and is an artist of nntch talent. She is 
a teacher also of both vocal and instrumental music. Since re- 
siding in Massachusetts, they have studied with tlie best teachers 
in Boston and Martlia with noted musicians in Paris. France. 
They are a credit to themselves and an honor to the good old 
town, where they were born and reared.. In 1897 Alartha visited 
Europe — going to England and France. The next year she went 
to Ireland and Scotland. She wrote of her experiences in for- 
eign lands which are very delightful reading. 

IMARV ilAXIM. 
A XoVEMBER IpVL. 

The fields in somber garb are .sleeping, 
"Xeath leaden skies that cheerless seem, 

The tall pines, faithful watch are keeping 
Over meadow, hill and stream. 

The maple's gold and crimson splendor 
Which but yesterday seemed complete — 

And song of wood-thru?h low and tender 
Xow, are only memories sweet. 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 315 

Down by the swiftly flowing river, 

In russet garments, rich and deep, 
Tall ferns in chilly breezes quiver 

And sigh, as they lie down to sleep. 

And yet, there's charm in this sweet sadness, 

Brooding o'er the dear, dead flowers, 
Tho' no bird-note of joy and gladness 

Echoes through the leafless bowers. 

Tho' lovely May brings scenes alluring, 

Glad songs of hope and promise sings, 
November, rich reward, enduring, 

To the toiling reaper brings. 

In tlie giant oak. dismantled, standing 

With outstretched arms against the sky, 
In sovereign majesty, commanding 

Reverence, none can e'er deny. 

Strength, beauty, grace, we sec — undying 
Through winter's blust'ring storms and sleet — 

That tempers with content, our sighing 
For flowers that blossomed at his feet. 

And tho' the thrush's song at even — 

That for aye, we fain would keep — 
Brings the soul to the gates of Heaven, 

There is joy in Silence deep. 

That folds, with tender, fond caressing 

The brown earth, to its placid breast 
Breathing benediction, blessing. 

Whispering of peace and rest. 

And for this sweet calm that enfolds us 

For the peace that crowns our land, 
We, thankful, bow to Him who holds us 

In the hollow of His hand. 

WlIKRE I Woi'LD RlCST. 

When for me, the unseen boatman 

Piles his silent oar. 
When to Nature's wondrous glories 

These eyes shall ope no more. 
When these weary hands no longer 

Seek their earthly task, 
Not for praise or worldly honor. 

Be the boon I ask. 



316 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



Where sweet wild flowers bend o'er me, 

May I calmly rest. 
Where the tall and fragrant grasses 

Wave above my breast, 
Where a singing brook glides swiftly 

O'er mossy stones away, 
And song birds till with melody 

Each long sweet summer day. 

Thro' winter's frost, and summer's sunshine- 

O'er my dreamless sleep 
May a pine tree, tall and stately. 

Faithful vigil keep. 
While a graceful birch, low bending 

A'ly grassy bed above, 
Answers to the west wind, fondly 

Wliisp'ring tales of love. 

Tliere to sleep, 'neath Nature's bosom. 

Watched witli loving care. 
By her children, softly breathing 

Hymns of praise and prayer 
Would sweeter be than commendation 

Phrased by pen or tongue. 
Sweeter far. than highest tribute 

E'er to mortal sung. 



MARTHA MAXIM. 

At Home Once More. 



My native hills'. I stand once 
_ more 

Upon your sacred sod. 
And for this glorious heritage 

I thank our father's God. 

The echoings of other lands 
But call to me in vain, 

For the longings of the heart 

_ reach out 

To the dear old hills of Maine. 

Where'er my footsteps wandered 

By castle or palace gate, 
I seemed to see the hills and 
vales 
Of the grand old Pine Tree 
State. 

O pine trees, radiant pine trees! 

In your stately, fair array 
You are dearer yet, and nearer 

When I am far away. 

Sometimes you're crowned with 
snowflakes 
Sometimes thru branches free 
The song of woodthrush was 
wafted 
Over the ocean unto me. 



And I heard again the music 
With its ceaseless sad refrain 

Of the "murmuring pines and 
hemlock" 
Of my dear old State of :Maine. 

I've looked upon thrones of 
kings 
Whose fame has spanned the 
sea. 
But to sit beneath thy pine 
trees' shade 
Is throne enough for me. 

I've gazed on scepter and crown 
On gems that monarchs wear 

But the jewels from thy rugged 
glens 
Are far more rich and rare. 

O glorious hills of Homeland! 

O beautiful woods of ;Maine 
Again I bow in thanlifulness 

To be with you again. 

And for this safe return to thee 
From lands of ancient lore 

But most of all, that I am here 
At home, at home once inore! 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



317 



ARDl-.LIA II. rRIXXK. 

Ardelia H. Prince, flaughter of Xoah Prince, is today 
tlie most cultivated woman in town. A graduate of the old 
fitting school at South Paris, she became a teacher and followed 
that profession in Brooklyn, X. Y., for many years. Retiring 
therefrom, she has since resided in lUickfield, at one time teaching 
in its schools. She is trustee of the Zadoc Long Free Library. 
Her fine literary tastes, her interest in all that tends to the good 




Ardelia H. Prince 

of the town, her refined home and her still youthful and vigorous 
sevent3'-seven years of useful life make her a distinguished figure 
in society. 

Aliss Prince has always been an extensive reader of good, 
clean literature and the classics and is a fine writer of both prose' 
and poetry. Her two little gems of verse here given will attract 
the attention and interest of all who read this historv. 



In Summer-time. 

In summer-time white lilies blow, 
And in the sun red roses glow. 
Blue hazes cap the distant hills. 
And hum of bees the soft air fdls 
Where tall the scarlet poppies grow. 

The shifting winds drive to and fro. 
Across blue skies, light clouds that go 
Like thistle-down on grassy rills, 
In summer-time. 



318 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

In these glad days, our footsteps slow- 
Fall light b\- fair Nezinscot's flow: 

Sweet speech, or sweetest silence, fills 
The happy hours. The frost that kills- 
The love that dies, — how can we know- 
In summer-time ! 

In Winter-time. 

In w-inter-time fair trac'ries grow 
On window panes while smoke-wreaths go, 
In early morn, far overhead 
In billow^y, amber clouds that shed 
Pale tints atliwart the wastes of snow. 

In steely skies the star points glow ; 
'Neath ice is lost the river's flow ; 
While creaks the passers hurried tread 
In winter-time. 

Thro' bitter days the fierce w-inds blow 
And drive the ever deepening snow 
Across bleak plains where lie the dead, 
In narrow house, on coldest bed, 
'Neath marbles white, row after row-. 
In winter-time. 



SEBA SMITH. 

(See Sketch) 

On an Event Occurring in the Green Mountains. 

The cold w-inds swept the mountain's height, 

And pathless was the dreary wild, 
And 'mid the cheerless hours of night, 

A mother wandered with her child. 
As through the drifted snow she pressed, 
The babe was sleeping on her breast. 

And colder still the winds did blow, 
And darker hours of night came on, 

And deeper grew the drifts of snow; 

Her limbs were chilled, her strength was gone ; 

O God, she cried, in accents wild, 

If I must perish, save my child! 

She stripped her mantle from her breast, 

And bared her bosom to the storm. 
And round the child she wrapped the vest, 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 321 

And smiled to think her babe was warm; 
With one cold kiss, one tear she shed, 
And sunk upon a snowy bed. 

At dawn a traveler passed by, 

She lay beneath a snowy veil, 
The frost of death was in her eye, 

Her cheek was cold, and hard, and pale; 
He moved the robe from off the child, 
The babe looked up and sweetly smiled. 



ELIZABETH 0.\KES SMITH. 

Elizabeth Oakes (Prince) Smith was born in North Yar- 
mouth in 1806. She was a remarkable child. Early acquiring a 
taste for literature she began writing essays and poetry when 
eight years old. She became acquainted with Seba Smith, who 
had taken up his residence in P^ortland and was connected as a 
contributor with the principal newspaper of the city of which he 
afterward became editor and in her seventeenth year she married 
him. It was the most fortunate event of the author's life. All 
his literary projects received from her hearty support and as- 
sistance. She assisted him in establishing the Portland Daily 
Courier and contributed to its columns both prose and poetry. 
She developed rapidly and seemed to grasp many subjects intui- 
tively and handle them in a masterly manner. Mrs. Smith could 
talk in public as well as use the pen in her sanctum. The anti- 
slavery cause and the rights of women found in her an able cham- 
pion. Hawthorne and Lowell highly complimented her for her 
literary productions while her oratory won the praises of Sumner 
and Phillips. She was the pioneer speaker among American 
women. In religious faith she was a Swedenborgian. After the 
family moved to New York she wrote and published her first 
novel. Their lovely home at Patchogue, L. I., was for many 
years a social center for people of literary culture and attain- 
ments. She was one of the most beautiful and charming of 
women. It has well been said of her that "she long stood before 
the public eye as essayist, poet, novelist, lecturer and' preacher. 
In her poem of 'The Sinless Child,' which she called her best 
production, there are some of the most beautiful passages to be 
found in English literature." One who personally knew lier has 



322 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

left this statement about her: "She outshone every other person 
in lier grace, beauty and literary attainments." Her fame is 
more enduring- than her distinguished husband's. She outlived 
him for many years and died at Long Island in 1893 at the age of 
87. She left several children and grandchildren, several of 
whom as might be expected are poets. 



To Portland. 

O City of my heart ! in dreams, 

Sweet dreams, I see thee as of yore. 
And catch the light's first early beams 

Glint o'er White Head's roar; 
Old Ocean's Daughter ! beam with smiles, 

And wear thy royal crest, 
Three hundred sixty-five green isles 

Sleep on old Casco's breast. 

And each is fair and brigiit to see, 

With tuft of breezy pine, 
Where I have often longed to be 

In these long years of mine : 
Accept, fair daughter of the sea, 

A simple, loving rhyme, 
For thou hast always been to me 

A tender, solemn chime, 

Such as the mariner has heard 

Far out upon the sea. 
Where bell of church or song of bird 

Could never hope to be. 
But village bell and song of bird 

Had furnished memory's cell 
With many a whispered sound and word 

Remembered over-well. 



Farewell I oh, daughter of the sea, 

Right royally thy throne 
O'erlooks the isles that wait on thee, 

W^here White Head sits alone ; 
Thy regal head bears not a scar 

From all the perils past ; 
Thine is the glory of the star. 

When skies are overcast ! 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 323 

ANNA GROSSMAN SMITH. 

Anna Grossman was born in Raynham, Mass., Oct. 30, 1734. 
She married Lieut. Jasiel Smith, an officer in the Revokitionary 
war. They moved to Turner, Me., late in Hfe (1786) from 
Taunton, Mass. Their nine children married and settled in Tur- 
ner, Buckfield and adjoining towns. She died in Boothbay, Me., 
May 18, 1823 in her 89th year. She was a remarkably intellect- 
ual woman and much of her famous grandson's (Seba Smith, 
Jr.) talent is thought to have been inherited from her. 

The following poetical farewell to her relatives and friends 

was found in her clothing after her death and read at her 

funeral : 

Mv 88fH Birthday. 

This day my years are eighty-eight, 

An unexpected age : 
O may I now with patience wait 

My weary pilgrimage. 

O guide me down the steps of age, 

And keep my passions cool, 
To understand thy sacred page 

And practice every rule. 

May I with those in realms above, 

That here are my delight, 
Forever sing redeeming love 

In glory infinite. 

Upon a poor polluted worm, 

O make thj^ grace to shine ! 
O save me for thy mercy's sake, 

For I am doublv thine ! 



GILBERT TILTON. 

Gilbert Tilton was born in Livermore, Elaine, Xov. 16, 1828. 
He was educated in the public and private schools of his native 
town and upon attaining his majority chose farming and the me- 
chanic's trade for an occupation. He went West in 1868, but 
came back the next year to Maine and settled in Buckfield village. 
He died Jan. 9, 1907. 

The School of X.vtuki:. 

When the apple is in bloom. 

We'll inhale the sweet perfume 
And revel in the beauties of the spring; 

When the spring is come and gone 

And the summer-time is on. 
Old Nature will her choicest blessings bring. 



324 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

When the autumn doth return, 
Nature's lessons we will learn, 

And garner up her treasures by the way; 
Then the journey of our life. 
With the closing of its strife, 

We'll compass in the doing? of a day. 

Then we'll wonder, wonder still 

Whether good or whether ill 
Shall be the lot of mortals here below ; 

While the sage will oft declare 

There'll be trouble over there. 
But ne'er we'll heed his ruling thus and so. 

'Tis with virtue we'll enshroud, 

Seek to have our claims allowed 
By Him who is vested with all power; 

All sufficient is the day, 

As we travel on our way, 
The Golden Rule to guide us evermore. 

We'll banish every thought 

By imagination wrought 
Of impending evils held in store, 

For the nations who were sent 

Without knowledge or consent 
To a cold and cheerless desert shore. 



FL.ORA E. WHITMAN. 

Miss Flora E. Whitman is the daughter of Ellis and Cora 
(Record) Whitman and was born in Buckfield, April 30, 1889. 
She is a graduate of Buckfield Hisfh School and the State Nor- 




Flora E. Whitman 

mal School at Farmington. For several years she has been a suc- 
cessful school teacher. Only recently has she turned her atten- 
tion to writing poetry. Her productions show remarkable talent 
and give great promise of future prominence in this field of 
literature. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 325 

A Tribute to Our Soldtt.rs. 

'Tis the month of buds and blor.soms, 

Ushering summer on her way, 
'Tis the time of tender memories, 

For it's now r^Iemorial Day. 

Here and there the soldiers gather, 

Growing fewer with the years. 
Now their steps are slow and feeble, 

Now their eyes are dimmed with tears. 

Once they were so strong and valiant. 

Marching to the drum and fife. 
Pressing forward in the battle. 

Glorying in the soldier's life. 

O'er old memories now they ponder, 

Review the old scenes once again, 
Look upon their comrades' faces ; 

'Tis the day of days to them. 

Now they are on the battlefield. 

Where they fought so long and well. 
Where the cannon roared their vengeance, 

And the whistling bullets fell. 

Now tliey're marching, sick and weary 

Through the country of their foe ; 
What they suffered in those old days, 

Only God and they can know. 

Along the beautiful Potomac, 

Now the armies quiet lie ; 
Now they are at Chattanooga ; 

Now at Lookout Mountain high. 

Then Gettysburg and the Wilderness 

With other battles known to fame. 
Then the siege at Petersburg, 

And at Richmond on the James. 

Then the war's great Southern leader, 

Taking counsel with the Lord, 
Near Virginia's fairest city. 

Surrendered unto Grant his sword. 

Five days later came the tidings. 

Which made sad the hearts of all; 
That Lincoln, their noble Chieftain, 

Had answered to the last great call. 



326 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

In memory the bells are tolling, 
As they tolled upon that day, 

When the Leader of the People 
Was laid from earthly cares away. 

Thus at last the war was ended, 
After suffering and pain ; 

Thousands were among the wounded, 
More there were among tlie slain. 

Of the many thousand soldiers. 
Of that band so tried and true. 

Only a little group of veterans, 
Who wore the faded coat of blue. 

Let us honor them while living. 
With our flags and garlands gay; 

Honor them with songs and speeches, 
And thus keep Memorial Day. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 327 

•CHAPTER XXII. 
Lawyers. 

daniel howard, esq. 

Daniel Howard was the first lawyer of whom we have any 
account, to practice his profession in Buckfield. He came from 
Turner shortly after the county of Oxford was formed in 1805. 
Howard was no douht the second lawyer who settled in Turner. 
He was employed in 1802 to defend that town which had been 
ind'cted ''for neglecting' to provide itself with a puljlic teacher of 
piety, religion and morality" (minister). We find his name on 
the petition to the General Court of the Commonwealth in 1804, 
opposing the incorporation of a I'niversal'st society in Turner. 

On coming to Buckfield he purchased lot No. 10 on Xorth 
Hill of the heirs of Thomas Coburn. He represented the town 
in the first court of General Sessions in the county at Paris Hill 
in 1806. These courts were opened with great formality. A 
fifer and drummer, after playing awhile in front of the meeting- 
house in which the courts were held till a court house was built, 
marched to the tavern and escorted the justices to the court 
room. The magistrates having been ushered into their seats by 
tlie sheriff, the crier stepped to the door and in a loud voice, made 
the opening proclamations. 

The law practice of Daniel Howard appears to have been 
very large. Xo lawyer in the county had a larger number of 
cases in court. At the first term he tried two actions before the 
jury. One he lost but the other he won. He did not stay long 
in Buckfield and having sold his farm to Thomas Long and prob- 
ably his practice to Henry Farwell, he moved to New Gloucester. 
From Xew Glouce-ter, he went to Jay anrl from there to A^assal- 
borough, where he was a practicing attorney as late as 1841. 

GENT. HI-:nKV E.\RWEEr,. 

Henry Farwell, who succeeded Daniel Howard in the prac- 
tice of the law in Buckfield, was born in Chesterfield, X. H., 
April 10, 1777. He came to Waterford about the time the coun- 
ty of Oxford was incorjiorated l)ut soon after went to Xorway 
where he probably read, law in the office of Lutlu-r l^^irrar, Esq. 



328 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

He was the first lawyer to be admitted to the Oxford Countv Bar. 
This was at the June term, 1807, of the Court of Common Pleas 
and the same year he opened an oftice at Buckfield village on the 
southern side of the river near where the post office now stands. 
January i, 1809, he married Sarah, daughter of Capt. Henry 
Rust, son of the proprietor of Rustfield, now the southern part 
of the town of Norway. She was born at Salem, Mass., Feb. 
26, 1789 and died at Norway, March 6, 1852. While at Buck- 
field Farwell and his wife resided in the same building or in one 
adjoining in which he had his law oflice. 

He seems to have prospered for a time, tried his own cases 
and was fairly successful. But Nathaniel Howe of Paris opened 
a law office in Buckfield about 1810 and in 1814 Samuel F. 
Brown came and began the practice of the law. For some rea- 
son Farwell appears to have lost the support of the leading busi- 
ness men. The court records show that he was often a litigant 
as defendant. Judge Reuel Washburn of Livermore wrote in 
1877 that "Farwell had the reputation of being slow to pay over 
money collected for his clients and was often sued for neglect to 
do so." About 1820, he moved to Dixfield where he was post- 
master for many years and prominent in the militia, rising to the 
rank of Brigadier General. Gen. Farwell while at Buckfield 
was one of the prime movers in the organization of the first nia- 
sonic lodge in the county at Paris Hill and of which he was the 
first master. He died at Dixfield, February 21, 1847. 



TLON. X.\TTIAXIEL HOWK. 

Nathaniel Howe, called b}' his enemies "Gouge" Howe, was 
born in Hillsboro, N. H., in 177'^. He was the son of Otis and 
Lucy (Goodale) Howe of Henn'ker, N. H.. and settled in the 
])ractice of his profession, at Paris Hill in 1808. For two or 
three years he had an office at Buckfield village on the northern 
side of the river on the Hartford road and owned two pieces of 
land there and on one of tliem was his oftice. He also kept open 
his office on Paris Hill. His commission as Justice of the Peace 
in 181 1 gives his rc'^idence as Buckfield. He soon afterwards 
moved to Bridgton, where he resided for about ten years, then 
he removed to South Waterford village wliere he died Januarv 
19, 1829. At the time of his death, he was a member of the 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 329 

Maine Senate and also postmaster at Soutli W'aterford, a position 
which he had held for several years. He was a man of much 
legal ability. Largely through his efTorts special pleading in our 
courts was abolished. 

On three occasions he was the 4th of July orator in Paris, 
once in Buckfield and once in Bridgton. The extracts from his 
speeches printed in one of the leading journals of the time fully 
justify the high eulogiums paid him by the editor. 



SAilUEL F. BROWX, ESQ. 

Samuel F. Brown was one of the most popular and respected 
of the lawyers who have practiced their profession in Buckfield. 
He was born at Sterling, ^Nlass., in April, 1784. For several 
years during his early youth he was a clerk in a Boston store. 
AMien he became of age he made a tour of many of the prominent 
cities of the United States and spent some time at Charleston. S. 
C, where an acquaintance advised him to study law. He acted 
upon that advice and soon began reading law in the office of 
Judge ^Mitchell at East Bridgewater, ]^Iass. In 1814 he came to 
Buckfield and opened a law office in the store of John Loring, esq. 
He appears from the first to have had the support and influence of 
the leading men of the town and was elected to the offices of town 
clerk and selectman and appointed postmaster, a position which 
he held for about twenty years. 

In 1817 he married Jane, daughter of- Dominicus and Jane 
0\'arren) Record, and brilt an oflice for him.=elf on the lot where 
the law office of Fred R. Dyer now stands. His wife was well 
educated for those times and was possessed of considerable prop- 
erty, which she inherited from her father's estate. 

^Ir. Brown was not a brilliant lawyer, but he was industrious 
and painstaking and in drawing conveyances, settling estates and 
disputes between neighbors, proved to be an ideal practitioner 
and magistrate. From the first, he took a prominent part in 
temperance movements and was generally selected as secretary of 
the organizations which he had assisted in forming. He was 
always an opponent of slavery and advocated its abolition — 
largelv influenced by what he had seen of the institution in the 
South. 



330 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The first Sabbath school in Bnckfield was founded principally 
through his efforts, and he was its superintendent for many 
years. He also organized a Sunday School in the DeCoster 
neighborhood in Hebron, then and for many years thereafter 
called "Sodom." For several years he was a contributor to the 
Oxford Observer. 

In 1850 he sold his real estate in Buckfield to America Farrar 
and moved to Bangor where he died ]\Iarch 7, 1861 in the 77th 
year of his age. Judge Washburn thus wrote of him: "He was 
an honest, fair and honorable practitioner, much respected and 
beloved by the Bar and his neighbors and clients." S. C. An- 
drews, Esq., once said of him that he was one of the best men he 
ever knew. 

HON. VIRGIL D. PARRIS. 

Mrgil D. Parris was born in Bnckfield, Feb. 18, 1807. His 
parents were Capt. Josiah and Experience ( Lowden") Parris. He 
came of a Revolutionary Patriot family, both his father and grand- 
father having served in the War for American Independence. 
Fie attended the home Grammar School, fitted for college at 
Hebron Academy and graduated at Union College, Xew York, in 
the class of 1827, being the first native of tlie town to receive a 
college education. He then began the study of the law first in of- 
fice of Samuel F. Brown and later with Judge Nicholas Emery of 
Portland. He attended a Law School in [Massachusetts and was 
admitted to the Oxford Bar at the June term 1830 of the court 
an opened an ofiice in his native village, being the first one born 
in Bnckfield to practice law here. 

^Ir. Parris early developed an aptitude for politics and soon 
became one of the most astute and able leaders of his party in 
Alaine. He organized the fir^t Jackson club in the State at Buck- 
field when he was but twenty years old and the ne.xt year he cast 
his first Presidential vote for "Old Hickory," as Gen. Andrew 
Jackson was called by his supjoorters, who was elected. }»Iaine, 
however, excepting the Portland district, was carried for John 
Ouincy Adams by a vote of 20,773 to 13.027 for Jackson. The 
town of Bnckfield which had cast a unanimous vote for Adams 
for President in 1824 went for Jackson in 1828 by a vote of 188 
to 69. This result indicates the popularity of A'irgil D. Parris in 
his home town and his success in inducing the people to follow his 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 331 

leadership. The whole C^xford district had gone for Adams, 
however, by a vote of 3265 to 2093 for Jackson. This political 
condition was soon to change. From this time, Mr. Parris rap- 
idly rose to political prominence and influence. In 183 1 he was 
elected assistant secretary of the ]\Iaine Senate. The next year 
he was elected to represent the Bnckfield district in the Legis- 
lature and for rive years thereafter was annually re-elected. In 
1838 he was elected to Congress to fill the vacancy in that body 
caused by the death of his brother-in-law, Hon. Tim.othy J. Carter 
of Paris and was re-elected. In 1842 and 1843 he was a Senator 
in the ]\Iaine Legislature and during part of the latter year served 
as president of that body and for a short period acted as Governor 
of the State. He might have been elected Governor of Maine in 
1846 but having been appointed Laiited States ^Marshal for the 
District of Maine in 1844 which position he held for four years, 
he gave his influence in favor of John W. Dana of Fryeburg and 
he was nominated and elected. 

In 1852 Mr. Parris was a delegate to the national convention 
of the democratic party which nominated Gen. Franklin Pierce of 
Xew Hampshire for President and much of the credit for his 
selection was due to Mr. Parris' efforts. About this time, he 
moved with his family to Paris Hill, which he made his home to 
his death. In 1853 he was appointed Special Mail Agent for New 
England and in 1856 store keeper at the Kittery, Me., Navy Yard 
which position he held when his party was thrown out of power 
in the nation in 1861. ]\Ir. Parris was the originator of the Buck- 
lield Branch Railroad and was the first president of the company 
organized to build it. 

For many years he was the principal leader of his party 
in county and state. He was an honest, bold and straightforward 
man of great energy of character and of unimpeachable integrity 
and was always free to state his convictions and fearless in declar- 
ing them and he regarded with scorn and contempt those who 
were politically as unstable as water, or who would be all things 
to all men for oftice. He was a born leader of men and the aged 
always had in him a defender. The old Revolutionary Soldiers of 
Buckfield regarded him as their special champion and. he held all 
who took part in the War for Independence in the greatest 
esteem and veneration. For the young, too, he ever had a 
pleasant word of cheer and encouragement. 



332 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The writer recalls when a mere lad that he and an older 
brother once accosted ]\Ir. Parris while he was at work in his 
garden near the roadside to inquire the way to North Paris where 
we were going on some errand. It will never be forgotten how 
kintlly he spoke to us and the directions he gave. Everything 
about our trip has been forgotten except our seeing and talking 
with ]Mr. Parris. The secret of his inihience and power over men 
has never been difficult to understand. In 1833 he married ]\Iiss 
Columbia, daughter of Capt. Samuel and PoUa ( Freeland) Raw- 
son of Paris Hill. \\'hen Captain Rawson died his estate was the 
largest up to that time which had ever been settled in the Oxford 
County Probate Court. His wife was one of the remarkable 
women of Paris. She lived to be nearly 07 years old. It was a 
noted family. Four of the daughters married men of prominence, 
two being Congressmen and one a General in the Civil War. [Mr. 
Parris died at his home on Paris Hill, June 13. 1874. His widow 
survives him (1915) in the T02d year of her age, with all her 
mental faculties unimpaired — a verv intelligent and a most re- 
markable ladv. 



WILLIAM B. BENNETT, ESQ. 

\\'illiam Bridgham JJennett. son of jolm and Lucy (Bridg- 
ham) Bennett and grandson of Nathaniel and Hannah (Babson) 
Bennett, was born at South Paris, Aug. 28, 1810. His mother 
was a sister of Dr. Wm. Bridgham. William's father having 
died, the widow with her children consisting of three small boys, 
in 1813 moved to Buckfield where she supi'jorted her family with 
what assistance she received from her brother, by teaching school. 
At the age of ten, William went to live in the family of Judge 
vSamuel Parris of Hebron and afterwards with his uncle. Dr. 
Thomas Bridgham of Leeds. In 1824 he began an apprenticeship 
to learn the cabinet maker's trade with Capt. James Jewett in 
Buckfield village and was with him three vears. He finally went 
to Waterville where he attended the college fitting school and 
taught school winters. In the Autumn of 1838 he began reading 
law in the office of Hon. \'. D. Parris at Buckfield. Two years 
later having passed the examination by the Bar Committee consist- 
ing of Levi Whitman, Reuel Washburn and Sanmel V. Brown, he 
was admitted to practice. 




Col. Jacob W. Browne 




Sullivan C. Andrews 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 335 

Mr. Bennett purchased the law library of ^Ir. Parris and 
opened an office at Buckfield. He was appointed postmaster that 
year but the next year the administration having changed he was 
succeeded in this office by Samuel F. Brown. In 1841 he was ad- 
mitted to practice law in the United States District Court at Port- 
land and was appointed commissioner in bankruptcy. In 1848 he 
removed to ^Mechanic Falls and later to Avon. He finallv settled 
in Durham where he died Jan. 19, 18S7. Mr. Bennett married 
Mary Hawkes and had two children. Charles, lives in Portland, 
unmarried. He is a dealer in patent medicines. Ada married a 
!Marriner, for many years a letter carrier and resides also in 
Portland. 

COL. JACOB W. BROWXE. 

Jacob W'ardwell Browne was born in Albany, Dec. 2. 1822. 
In 1846 he entered Bowdoin College and the next year with E. P. 
Hinds as principal he helped establish the Norway Liberal Insti- 
tute of which institution he was assistant teacher. For two years 
he taught mathematics and the languages at Westbrook Sem- 
inary. Mr. Browne read law in the office of Hon. Elbridge Gerry 
at Waterford, teaching for several terms in the meantime in the 
high school at Windham. In 185 1 he was admitted to the Bar in 
this county and the following year opened an office at Buckfield 
where he lived for several years, taking a prominent part in local 
and political affairs. For two years he was the village postmas- 
ter. In 1859 he married Mrs. Margaret Bisbee, daughter of 
Capt. James Spaulding. Before the breaking out of the war in 
1S61 he moved to Earlsville. Illinois, where he resided to his 
death in October, 1892. 

In whatever he became interested, Mr. Browne was always 
a leader. He was a large contributor of both prose and poetry to 
the press. His son, O'Xeil Browne, Esq., has inherited many of 
the prominent characteristics of his father and is one of the 
ablest and mo^t infiuent-al leaders of his party in Illinois. 

IIOX. SUI.LIVAX C. ANDREWS. 

The Andrews families of Xew England are descendants of 
Bishop Lancelot Andrews, D.D., an eminent English divine, son 
of Thomas of the Suffolk Andrews branch, who came to America 
in 1630 and settled at Taunton. Bishop Andrews was bom in 



336 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

London in 1555. He became an author of note, one of the trans- 
lators of the Bible, a preacher of wonderful power and eloquence 
and one of the most distinguished scholars of his age. He died 
Sept. 25, 1626. David, a grandson of Thomas, born in Taunton, 
jNIass., May 2^, 1736, married Xaoma Briggs. Their oldest child, 
Edward, was born Dec. 20, 1767. He married Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of John Xevens of Poland and settled in Paris. Hon. Charles 
Andrews, their youngest child, was Clerk of the Courts and 
Member of Congress; Alfred, their fifth child, born March 9, 
1800, married Eliza Cushman. They were the parents of Honor- 
able Sullivan C. Andrews who was born on Paris Hill, June 18, 
1825. He received an academic education and began reading law 
in the office of Benj. C. Cummings, Esq., in Paris in 1843. He 
graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1846 and was 
admitted the same year to the Bar in Cumberland County. The 
next year was spent in the office of his uncle, Charles Andrews, 
then Clerk of the Courts. In ^lay, 1847, he opened a law office 
in Buckfield where he practiced his profession and engaged in 
various kinds of business for 26 years. 

In January, 1855, he married Brittania C. Coolidge of Port- 
land. While at Buckfield, he was repeatedly elected to town office 
and served a term as attorney for the county and as a member of 
the Legislature. For many years he was a director in the Buck- 
field Railroad Company. In 1864, he ran as a candidate for Con- 
gress, but was defeated as his party was then in a large minority. 
He moved to Portland in 1873 and several years later to Cam- 
bridge, Mass., where he died Nov. 10, 1889 from Bright's dis- 
ease, while holding the office of special examiner of the Pension 
Department. 

]\Ir. Andrews was a business lawyer and he took great pride 
in being so called. He was a man of courtly manners and digni- 
fied bearing, a true friend and a generous enemy. Though aris- 
tocratic in his tastes, he was thoroughly dem.ocratic in his inter- 
course with men. 

Children : Thirza, an accomplished lady, married Rev. H. B. 
Smith, residence ^lechanic Falls. ; Alfred Coolidge Andrews 
born in Buckfield, July 11, 1873. He graduated at Boston Uni- 
versity Law School. Admitted to the Oxford Bar in 1897 and 
practiced law for a time at Mechanic Falls. 




George D. Bisbee 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 339 

THOMAS J. BRIDGHAM, ESQ. 

Thomas Jefferson Bridgham, son of Thomas of Hebron was 
Doni there June 20, 1833. His early education was such as could 
be acquired at the district school on Brighton Hill in that town. 
At fifteen years of age he began attending Hebron Academy 
wliere he fitted for Waterville College which institution he en- 
tered in 1853. After his college course he began reading law in 
tlie ofiice of S. C. Andrews at Buckfield and was admitted to the 
Oxford County Bar in 1857. He opened an office in the village 
where he remained four years in the practice of his profession. 
In 1859 he married Miss Susan Hayford of Canton. In 1861 
Mr. Bridgham moved to Waterford, where he resided for four 
years. On account of failing health he returned to Buckfield, 
dying here May 20, 1866. 



HON. GEORGE D. BISBEE. 

One of the most astute and able lawyers and politicians who 
have ever resided in Buckfield is George Dana Bisbee. His par- 
ents were George Washington and Mary B. (Howe) Bisbee. He 
comes of Revolutionary and Puritan stock and was born in Hart- 
ford, Alaine, July 9, 1841. He received his education in the com- 
mon and high schools of the vicinity where he lived and began 
reading law in the office of Randall & Winter at Dixfield. 

The breaking out of the Civil War in 1861 found him still a 
law student and less than 20 years old. The next year he as- 
sisted in organizing a company of volunteers which became Co. 
C. of the i6th Regiment, Elaine Infantry, and he was appointed 
to the very responsible position of orderly sergeant. 

His first battle was at Fredericksburg, Va., on the 13th of 
December, 1862, where the regiment was hotly engaged and lost 
heavily. Sergeant Bisbee received such a severe wound in the 
left arm that the surgeons insisted on its amputation but he would 
on no account permit it and the arm was saved though it has 
never healed. He was promoted to second lieutenant and with 
his wounded arm in a sling rejoined his company in time to par- 
ticipate in the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 1-3, 
1863, the regiment making a forced march of 25 miles to reach 
tlie position assigned it and was one of the organizations selected 
to cover the retreat of the army across the Rappahannock. His 



B40 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

third battle was at Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 1863, where the gal- 
lant men of the i6th Alaine were ordered to advance northwest 
of the town and hold their position at all hazards to enable the 
surviving heroes of the First Corps to take a new position on 
Cemetery Ridge. Like Leonidas and his imm.ortal 300 Spartans 
at Thermopyle they knew the order meant death or capture, but 
they executed the movement quickly and occupied the position 
designated. 

Lieut. Bisbee's company carried the colors as the Regiment 
went forward "into the jaws of death and the mouth of hell." 
They stopped the enemy for a brief period. — precious moments 
for what was left of the First Corps, the most of whom got away, 
but cut down by shot and shell and surrounded by an enemy 
flushed with victory, there was nothing for Bisbee and his com- 
patriots but to surrender. Here took place an act for which 
their praises will long be sung. They would not give up their 
ilag and as it went to the earth at Lieut. Bisbee's suggestion it 
was stripped from its standard and hastily torn into pieces of 
which each man preserved one to keep as a precious relic of his 
service. 

Lieut. Bisbee was confined in several Southern prisons for 
eighteen months when he was paroled and exchanged. He 
joined his regiment in time to participate in the engagement 
which resulted in the Surrender of Lee's Army at Appomattox. 
On returning home he took up his law studies and was admitted 
to the Oxford bar in December, 1865, his mind having gained in 
his war college course a grasp of principles of justice and equity 
that no law school could possibly instill. He opened a law office 
in Buckfield, in January, 1866, and continued there in practice to 
1892, when he removed to Rumford Falls, where he is now 
(1915) senior member of the law firm of Bisbee & Parker. He 
is a member of the bar of the supreme court of the United States. 
Mr. Bisbee is recognized as one of the foremost business lawyers 
in the state. Xo man in the county has ever so long retained his 
hold upon the management of affairs and this is due not merely 
to his ability, sagacity and shrewdness but also to his integrity 
and of his faithfully keeping his engagements. In the manage- 
ment of causes in court he is especially effective. His knowledge 
of everyday men and things, his thoroughly democratic bearing 
and his plain, hard common sense make him very successful with 



m\ 



HFSTORY OF BUCKFIELD B41 

juries and particularly good as adviser — as counsel before legis- 
lative bodies and in getting results in everything he undertakes. 
Hon. Charles W. Walton, one of the most eminent justices of the 
supreme court of this state, once during the trial of a case where 
he was presiding, said to the members of the bar present that ^Ir. 
P>isbee"s twenty minutes argument for liis client was a model. 
His best piece of legislative work was the law he was instru- 
mental in getting passed to rescue the Bucktield Railroad from 
the unfortunate condition in which it was left Ijy the Smith man- 
agement which greatly surprised the old stagers in legislative pro- 
ceedings. For this Mr. Uisbee was highly complimented by Hon. 
James W. Bradbury, a former United States Senator. 

Mr. Bisbee has served as State's Attorney for Oxford County ; 
been both Representative and Senator in the Legislature, United 
States Marshal for the District of Maine ; State Bank Examiner 
and as a member of Gov. Wm. T. Cobb's Council in 1905-07. In 
politics he is a Republican. He is a strong advocate of temper- 
ance and a member of the Baptist Church at Rumford Falls. 
His business interests, independent of his professional and polit- 
ical connections, include the presidency of the Rumford Falls 
Trust Company, in the organization of which he took a promi- 
nent part and is also a director and attorney for the Portland and 
Rumford Falls Railroad Co. and connected with several other 
local and business enterprises. Mr. Bisbee v/as made chairman 
of the Board of Trustees of Hebron Academy in 1907 and is now 
president of that institution, having served as vice-president for 
several years. He married, July 8, 1866, Anna Louise, daughter 
of Hon. Lsaac X. Stanley of Dixfield and their children are : 
Stanley and ]\Lary Louise, wife of Mr. Everett R. Josselyn of the 
firm of Brown & Josselyn of Portland, wholesale flour dealers. 

CH.\RI.1-:S 1'. WHITMAN. ESQ. 

Charles F. Whitman was the third native of Buckfield to open 
a law office in the village. He was born Feb. (), 1848 in the 
southern part of the town on the farm where his great-grand- 
father, Jacob Whitman, settled after his service in the Con- 
tinental Army. ( )n his mother's side he is descended from Abi- 
jah Buck for whom the town was named and from Micah Foster 
of Pembroke, a ^lassachusetts Minute man in the War for Inde- 
jK-ndence. ( )n both sides, he is descended from seven of that im- 



342 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

mortal band who signed the "Compact of Government" in the 
cabin of the ^layfiower. Eleven of his ancestors of both sexes, 
among whom were Elder W'm. Brewster. "Chief of the Pilgrims," 
\\'illiam Mullens, Francis Cooke, John Alden and John Rowland 
came in the ^Mayflower; two, one of whom was the courtlv Gov. 
Thomas Prince in the Fortune and ten. among whom were George 
Morton and his son, Nathaniel, afterwards the Secretarv of the 
Colony for many years and author of the Xew England ]^Iemorial 
came in the Ann and Little James. And it is a remarkable fact 
tliat the three romantic courtships, among the Pilgrims in these 
voyages over sea — all resulting in marriages — were of his 
ancestors. 

Mr. Whitman fitted for college at Hebron Academy and the 
Bates Latin School, but instead of taking a college course, as at 
first intended, he entered the office of Hon. S. C. Andrews and 
began the study of the law, and wdiile pursuing these studies, 
taught the high school in the village for several terms. In Sep- 
tember, 1868, when not cjuite twenty-one. he was admitted to the 
Bar in this county and having married ]^Iiss Alary A. Dinsmore 
of Norway, daughter of Ansel and Judith C. (Morse) Dinsmore, 
moved to Mechanic Falls the next year and opened a law office. 
He met with excellent success but in 1871 he returned to Buck- 
field and had his office in the one formerly occupied by Hon. John 
D. Long. In February. 1873. he moved to Norway, where he 
has since resided. 

For many years he was connected with the schools in various 
positions and has never lost his interest in them. He was the 
originator of the Norway Public Library and solicited the first 
subscriptions for buying books. 'Sir. \Vhiti7ian has from boy- 
hood been interested in the cause of Temperance and all moral 
reforms. He delights to take part in the political speaking cam- 
paigns and the exercises of ]\Iemorial Day. Through his efforts 
the Norway Municipal Court was established in 18S5 and he was 
appointed its first judge and served ten years, then resigned to 
become Clerk of the Courts, which position he held for twenty 
years. Air. Whitman has been a large contributor to the press, 
written many sketches and short stories, devoted much time to 
genealogical and historical research, is a member of the Whit- 
man, Packard and Alden Associations and one of the authors of 
this historv. 




Oscar H. Hersey 




Capt. Thomas S. Bridgham 



lilSTORY OF RUCKFIELD . 345 

TIOX. OSCAR H. HKRSEV. 

A successful practitioner of the law here was Oscar Henry 
Hersey born at I'^reeport, 'Sle., April 9, 1852. His father was 
Rev. Levi Hersey, a Free \\'ill Baptist clergyman. Mr. Hersey 
is a graduate of Litchfield Academy in this state. In his nine- 
teenth year he moved with his father to Buckfield and, in 1875, 
began reading law in the office of Hon. Geo. D. Bisbee. He was 
admitted to practice in ]\Iarch, 1877, and opened an office here. 
He accjuired a great reputation and was successful in building up 
a good business in the courts of Oxford, Androscoggin and Cum- 
berland Counties. 

Mr. Hersey was elected attorney for this county in 1886 antl 
served two terms. He was later elected Representative and Sen- 
ator to the Legislature. For some years, while at Buckfield, he 
was a partner of Hon. Geo. D. Bisbee, under the firm name of 
Bisbee & Hersey. V\'hen Mr. Bisbee moved to Rumford in 1894, 
the partnership was dissolved. In 1899 Mr. Hersey moved to 
Portland and with Judge Enoch Foster, one of the brightest of 
legal minds, opened an office under the firm name of Foster & 
Hersey. Mr. Hersey was admitted to practice in the District and 
Circuit courts of the United States. He is a sharp and efficient 
business man as well as a lawyer. When Charles Forster, who 
h.ad been a large manufacturer of toothpicks in Buckfield and 
other places died, Mr. Hersey was appointed according to the 
terms of his will Trustee to carry on the extensive business Mr. 
l-'orster had built up. He now resides in Phillips. In 1870 he 
married Ida A., daughter of Charles H. and Cynthia (Harris) 
Berry. She is a descendant of Dea. William Berry, one of the 
early settlers in Buckfield. They have three children: Augustus 
M., born Oct. 30. 1881 ; Caroline B., born April 16, 1883; Arvilla 
M.. born May 12, 1892. 



CAPT. THOMA.S S. BRIDGHAM. 

Tliomas S. Bridgham, son of Sydenham Bridgham, the fourtli 
native of tlie town to practice law here, was born Xov. 2^, 1831'). 
He was a school bo}- with John D. Long, Edward L. Parris and 
others of later note in the old village schoolhouse on Loring's 
Flill. I le fitted for college in the academ'es of Hebron, West- 
brook and Bethel and entered Tufts College in 1855, remaining 



346 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

about a year. He then continued his studies in Bethel, went 
West for a short time and returning to Buckhcld, began the study 
of law witli Sullivan C. Andrews, Esq., with whom he remained 
about a year. He finished his legal studies with Judge Howard 
and Sewell C. Strout, Esq., in Portland, where he was admitted 
to the Cumberland Bar in 1859. He then opened an office 
at Bryant's Pond, where he married Martha H.. daughter of 
Hon. James H. Farnum. He subsequently followed his profes- 
sion in Windham and Mechanic Falls and on the breaking out of 
the Civil \\'ar became a recruiting officer. I-ie enlisted in 1863 
as a private in a Maine regiment, but was soon appointed by Gov. 
Andrew, a second lieutenant in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment 
in which he served until his discharge, Aug. 16. 1865. Return- 
ing from the war he engaged some years in business pursuits in 
Buckfield and Portland, after which he resumed the practice of 
law in his native town. 

In politics ^Ir. Bridgham has been a life-long democrat and 
prominent in the councils of his party, having served several 
years as state committeeman and in state and national conven- 
tions. He was elected representative to the Legislature from 
Buckfield in 1880 and under President Cleveland's first adminis- 
tration, he received an appointment in the Portland Custom 
House, where he remained over four years, holding the office of 
weigher and ganger and inspector. He returned in 1891 to 
Buckfield, where he has since remained in the practice of his pro- 
fession and the pursuits of other business. F'or several years he 
has been a large owner in the brush factory. He has been prom- 
inent in local public affairs, serving the town many years as one 
of its selectmen. He owns and occu})ies the law office formerly 
built and occupied by Hon. George D. Bisbee, and till its recent 
sale, resided in the old family mansion built by his grandfather. 
Dr. William Bridgham. He belongs to the orders of Ma-^onry 
and the G. A. R. and is a member of the Episcopal church. In 
1815 he was appointed by the President one of the Board of Man- 
agers of the Soldiers' Homes. 

FREDERICK R. DVER, ESQ. 

Frederick R. Dyer was born in Oldtown, Me., Oct. 3, 1873 
and is the only child of William H. and Catherine ( Xoonan) 
Dver. He is ninth in descent from Deacon Thomas Dver. the 




Frederick R. Dyer 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 849 

immis^rant ancestor who came to America in 1632 and settled at 
Weymouth, Mass. The name is of English origin, derived from 
occupation. The family coat of arms is a plain shield sur- 
mounted by a wolf's head. A reproduction appears on a tomb- 
stone in the Copp's Hill burying ground. Boston. 

Thomas Dyer was admitted to the rights of a freeman in 
1644 and was an innkeeper in Weymouth and one of the leading 
citizens of his day. He was deacon of the church there and 
closely connected with Dea. John Whitman, the first fleacon of 
the church and the first military officer and magistrate in that 
town. He was a representative to the General Court in i()40. 
Dea. Dyer married ( i ) Agnes Reed, who died Dec. 4, i6f)y and ( 2 ) 
Elizabeth (Adams) Harding. He had ten cliildren, all by first 
wife. He died Nov. 3, 1676 and his estate was valued at over 
2000 pounds — a property greater in purchasing power then than 
thirty to forty thousand dollars would be now. 

The line of descent from Dea. Thomas Dyer is as follows : 
William, ninth child born about 1658, married Joanna Chard ; 
Christopher, second child born about 1701, married Hamiah Xash 
and settled in Abington ; Lieut. Christopher, tliird child born 
about 1735. married Ruth Hunt; Asa. youngest of six children, 
born July, 1773, married in 1801 Mehitable Chamberlain and set- 
tled in Skowhegan, Ale. ; Joseph, the youngest of eight cliildren, 

married Dorcas and had one child, Frederick, born in Hollis, 

Dec. 22, 1805, married Sarah K. Darrah and settled in Oldtown ; 
\\'illiam H., a mechanic and millwright, the oldest of three chil- 
dren, born June 9, 1846, married Catherine Xoonan of St. 
George, Xew Brunswick. She was born June 30, 1846 and died 
Feb. 8, 1896. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in the Canton, Me., 
schools and graduated at Hebron Academy in 1894. He entered 
Colby College where he remained tw^o years, then began reading 
law in the office of Hon. O. H. Hersey at Buckfield and was 
admitted to the Oxford Bar in 1897. Two years later he com- 
menced active practice at Buckfield village and at once took high 
rank in his profession. He represented the town in the Legisla- 
ture of the State in IQ07 and was elected State's Attorney for 
Oxford County in 19 12. 

Mr. Dyer has the too rare gift of orderliness and i)romptness 
—is a close student of the law, a safe counselor and gives great 
promise of future distinction. He married in 1900, Miss Lena 
H., daughter of Edwin and Lola C Record) Maxim of Buckfield. 



350 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Physicians. 

For several years after the settlement of Buckfield it was 
without a resident physician, and the people were obliged to send 
to other towns for medical attendance. Probably the first physi- 
cian to practice here was Dr. Daniel Childs, who was born in 
Woodstock, Conn., Oct. 8, 1747. He received his medical educa- 
tion in France, was married in 1777 and moved to Turner, Me., 
in 1781, settling on Lower Street. He was moderator of the first 
town meeting and was a prominent citizen of that town until his 
death in 1802. He was a skilful physician, having a great repu- 
tation for success in treatment of bilious colic. His field of prac- 
tice embraced the settlements in Buckfield which he often visited. 

DR. SAMUEL FRINK. 

Dr. Samuel Frink was probably the first resident physician in 
Buckfield. He was a native of Rutland, Mass., and the son of 
Dr. John Frink, a man of prominence, who practiced medicine 
and held many ofBces in that town, and was a member of the con- 
vention to frame the Constitution of Massachusetts. The son, 
Samuel, came to Buckfield about 1797, but we are led to infer that 
notwithstanding the prestige of his father and the desirability of 
a local physician, his settlement here was not warmly welcomed ; 
for it appears from what is related in the annals that he had come 
into town without the consent of the town authorities and with 
others was served with notice to leave town, after the custom of 
excluding new comers who might become town charges. He 
seems, however, to have satisfied the authorities in this respect 
and settled on land purchased for him by his father of Rutland, 
on which he resided during his stay in town. This land was the 
homestead lot occupied by the late Dt. O. R. Hall. The tax lists 
show the name of Samuel Frink till 1811, when it is presumed 
that he returned to ^Massachusetts. He settled in Paxton in that 
state, where he died ]\tarch 31, 1846, aged eighty-two years. 

DR. Er.F.NEZER TAYLOR. 

Dr. Ebenezer Taylor was in practice in Buckfield from 1801 
to 1804, when he moved to Farmington, where he was reg'arded 
as a good physician and was well patronized. 




Dr. William Bridsham 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 353 

DR. WILLIAM rRIDCHA^r, JIR. 

\\'ith clatter of hoofs and their echoes replying, 

Rides the sturdy old doctor, his figure erect, 
Whatever the season, no summons denying. 
With cheer for the living and ease for the dying, 
His hope-giving presence time long will reflect. 

Dr. \\'illian'! Bridgham, jr.. was the next physician to settle 
here. A man of positive character and great energy, he wrought 
a notable record of usefulness which is prominently interwoven 
witli the annals of the town. He was born in Plymouth, Mass., 
Nov. 26, 1780, and was the son of Dr. \Mlliam and Anna (Ham- 
mond) Bridgham, who early moved from Massachusetts to Xew 
Gloucester, ]\Ie. He became familiar with medicine under his 
father's instruction and subsequently continued his studies with 
an apothecary in Portland and a physician in Dover, X. H. He 
was an apt student and after concluding his studies, he com- 
menced practice in Sumner, Me., boarding with Squire John 
Briggs. But after remaining there a few months he became dis- 
satisfied with his prospects and settled in Buckfield in the year 
1803, where he passed the remainder of his life. That year he 
married Hannah Bradbury of Xew Gloucester, by whom he had 
four daughters and three sons. 

When he came to Buckfield he was more than penniless, as he 
had a borrowed horse and bridle and was five hundred dollars in 
debt, which was a large sum for those days. There soon came a 
time when creditors took measures to arrest him for debts which 
he could not then satisfy. Arrest then meant imprisonment, and 
while evading the officers of the law they suddenly withdrew their 
importunities, and he was left unmoleste'l. It appears that he 
had an unknown patron and warm friend in Benjamin Spaulding, 
the second, who, discerning the sterling qualities of the young 
physician, (luietly assumed his liabilities and gave him his own 
time for payment. This confidence was not misplaced, for the 
doctor was soon able to discharge all his financial obligations, and 
his life-long gratitude and veneration was bestowed on kind- 
hearted "Uncle Ben," who had befriended him in his time of 
need. The doctor's career was one of prosperity. He soon dis- 
tanced all his competitors and acquired large property and emi- 
nence in his profession. He was an industrious man. often 



354 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

spending the day with his hired men clearing- land and attending 
to his professional labors at night. 

For many years he lived as befitted his means in the humble 
home to which he first brought his bride, but after acquiring in- 
dependence, he erected in 1817. on the commanding site between 
the two roads diverging northward from the village, the large 
square house, known as the old Dr. Bridgham house, which be- 
came a home of comfort and a mansion of hospitalitv. His pro- 
fessional and business interests increased till he became one of 
the most wealthy citizens of the community, b:it later he suttered 
heavy losses through investments in the Buckfield Branch Rail- 
road and expensive litigation associated therewith, which serious- 
ly reduced his property and weighed heavily upon his declining 
years. 

The mission of the old-time country doctor was one of mani- 
fold dependencies and in notable contrast v.ith that of his suc- 
cessor of modern times. He had no convenient drug stores 
stocked with anesthetics and prepared specifics, no trained as- 
sistants or hospitals to which he could take patients in critical 
cases : but he was the sole relance. not only the faithful family 
doctor, but the compounder and dispenser of medicine, the sym- 
pathetic friend, often the tender nurse and not infrequently the 
spiritual comforter in seasons of death and aftiiction. Dr. Bridg- 
ham was a conspicuous type of this class. When he commenced 
practice in Buckfield the country was co:r,paratively new and 
sparsely settled with few roads which in many places were noth- 
ing but paths. H"s professional visits were performed on foot 
and horseback with his supply of medicines in h"s saddle-bags. 
He was an expert rider and his erect figure moving along the 
rough ways was a familiar one to all the country round. From 
far and near, in sunshine and storm, he answered all summ.onses. 
his presence an inspiration in every household. For more than 
sixty years he was a prominent citizen of the town and a physi- 
cian of wide renown. He was always active in numicipal afltairs. 
served as postmaster and in 1828 represented the town in the 
Legislature. He was a great lover of rural life, owned extensive 
tracts of land and cultivated a large farm. He was a man of san- 
guine temperament and impressive individuality, quick of temper, 
but kindly of heart : in religion, a strong Universalist. in pol'tics. 
a lifedong TetTerscn dem.ocrat. He was an ardent Freemason. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 355 

having received his degrees at Topsham in 1806. He died Xov. 
13. 1864. at the age of eighty-four years and was buried with 
masonic honors bv Xezinscot Lodge of Turner. 



DR. SAMUEL FRYE. 

Dr. Samuel Frye was in practice here in 1810. but probably 
was not long a resident here as his name only appears on the 
town records of that year. He acquired some reputation as a 
specialist, but little is now known of his personal history and the 
preservation of his record in town is due less to his personality 
as a physician than to his litigation with Dr. William Ijridgham 
which has come down to us as a famous lawsuit. 

This legal controversy was one of absorbing interest to the 
whole community and became notorious through the whole 
county. 

When Dr. Uridgham. young, zealous and ambitious, settled in 
the village he was received as a politic move, into partnership l)v 
Dr. Frink, but their total incompatibilty of temperament rendered 
this union of short duration and the growing popularity of the 
younger man and the corresponding decline in the practice of the 
elder bred a state of ill feeling between them. This feeling was 
intensified as time went on and was evidently communicated to 
Dr. Frye on his settlement in town some years later. At any rate 
the two were united in implacable opposition to Dr. Bridgham. 
hoping, no doubt, to displace him in popular estimation, but they 
found in h"m an antagonist all ready and eager to accept the 
gauge of battle. 

Dr. Frye, it appears, acquired for a time quite a reputation for 
breaking up fevers. Finally one of his patients, a promising 
young girl in the Lowell neighborhood, died from the effects, it 
was said, of his giving her mercury and a reaction followed. Dr. 
Frye claimed that Dr. Bridgham started this talk and sued him 
for slander, claiming damages at one thousand dollars. He em- 
ployed a noted lawyer, Gen. Samuel Fessenden, and Dr. Bridg- 
ham's lawyers were Albion K. Parris and Judge Stephen Emery. 

The declaration in the writ was carefully drawn and in part 
as follows : 

"Whereas the said Frye is a good, true, honest and just citizen 
of this Commonwealth, and is a physician of regular standing 



356 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

and qualified to do business as a physician in said town of Buck- 
field, and has the reputation of a good physician as aforesaid, yet 
the said Bridgham, well knowing- the premises, but maliciously 
contriving to defame the plaintiiT. and to bring him into disgrace 
in his said professon of a physician and wholly to destroy his 
business did on the 5th da}' of September, 1810, in a certain dis- 
course of and concerning the plaintiff as a physician, with certain 
good citizens of the town of Buckfield and in their presence and 
hearing, and otherwise falsely and maliciously say, speak and 
publish the following false, scandalous and defamatory words, 
that is to say : 

" 'She {meaning one Aliriam Gammon, who was a patient un- 
der the care of the said plaintifi:, who was her physician ) was 
poisoned to death by mercury," meaning that the said plaintiff 
had poisoned her, or words to that effect." 

The declaration continues with two other counts in the usual 
legal phraseology, setting forth similar language attributed to Dr. 
Bridgham, relative to the poisoning of patients through the use 
of mercury l^y Dr. Frye. The action was tried at the ^lay term, 
181 1, of the Court of Common Pleas. The plea of the defendant 
was the general issue, not guilty, "reserving liberty to introduce 
any special matter of defence." Numerous witnesses were sum- 
moned on either side, and the case was thoroughly tried. The 
verdict was for the defendant. Dr. Bridgham, who recovered 
judgment for his costs, taxed at $22.15. The case was appealed 
to the Supreme Judicial Court then held at Portland. It was 
probably never entered there, as no record of the action appears 
in that court. Dr. Bridgham's victory was complete. His rivals, 
Doctors Frink and Frye, both soon after disappeared from Buck- 
field and we hear no more of them. 

DR. JACOi; H. CA:MPBr:LL. 

Dr. J;icob H. Campbell was in active practice in Buckfield in 
1829. It does not appear of record that he was long a resident 
of the town, and little can be obtained of his history. He was 
prominent for his knowledge of anatomy. 

DR. SPAULDIXG. 

A Dr. Spaulding was in Buckfield in 1830. Pie boarded with 
Dr. William Bridgham. with whom he formed some sort of a 
temporary partnership. He was favorably regarded by the peo- 
ple, but after remaining about a year lie changed to another 
locality. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 35' 



DR. VVirXTAM COMSTOCK. 



Dr. William Comstock was of Smithfield, R. I., in June, 1829. 
He bought a farm on Sumner Hill, ^le., in January, 1832, and 
practiced medicine some years in Sumner. He sold his farm to 
James S. Barrett and in 1835 purchased of John Taylor the Will- 
iam Pidgin homestead farm in Buckfield, now the home of Cyrus 
]\r. Irish, where he remained in practice till August, 1841, when 
he went to Massachusetts and established himself in practice. 
He \vas a man of refined manners, scholarly attainments and par- 
ticular in matters of dress and habits. He was popular with the 
people and enjoyed a large professional business. 



DR. CYRUS H. COOLIDGE. 

Dr. Cyrus H. Coolidge was born in Canton, ]\Iay 11, 1800. 
He was inclined to study and entered Bowdoin College from 
which he graduated in 1825 in the class with Henry Wardsworth 
Longfellow. He studied medicine with his vmcle. Dr. Cornelius 
Holland of Canton and after taking his medical degree com- 
menced practice at Canton Point. He came to Buckfield in 1841, 
succeeding Dr. \\'illiam Comstock, whose homestead farm he 
purchased in 1842. He remained here in active practice alx)ut 
ten years, acquiring a large professional business. He was a 
man of blunt speech and many peculiarities of character, but was 
regarded as a very good physician. In 1S52 he left Buckfield 
and went to California, stopping in various places in that state un- 
til i860, when he finally located in Nevada. He again removed 
to California where he died in 1871. 



DR. JOHN S. DRAKE. 

Dr. lohn S. Drake, son of John Drake, was born in Buck- 
field, Xov. 14, 1809. When he was young the family moved to 
Piscataquis County. He graduated from Bowdoin College, 
studied medicine and became a practitioner of the Thompsonian 
School. He returned to Buckfield about 1843 and resided in the 
house now occupied by Gilbert Tilton. He devoted some of his 
time to school teaching and while here married his second wife, 
.\manda Wood, then of Hartford. He remained here in practice 
till November, 1847. when he moved to Turner and from tliere 



B58 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

to Paris in 1852. In 1855 he went West and passed most of his 
remaining- years in the practice of his profession in IlHnois and 
Iowa. Owing to failing heahh, he finally ren.ioved to Santa Bar- 
bara, Cal., where he died June 3, 1887. He was a man of pleas- 
ing manners and attractive personal appearance. 



DR. Wir.LlAM riXKXEV r.RID(;iI.\ M . 

Dr. William Pinkney P.ridgham, son of Dr. William Pridg- 
ham, was born in PuckfieM. Sept. 13. 1816. His early education 
was obtained in the town schools, the Buckiield High School, 
taught by Cyril Pearl, and Westbrook Seminary. At an early 
age he chose the practice of medicine for liis life work and in fit- 
ting himself for this profession lie was highly favored in the asso- 
ciations of his youth with so skillful a physician as his father. 
\\'hen bLit a mere lad he was a frequent companion of his father 
on his visits to patients and was present at many consultations of 
doctors over critical cases, which made a strong impression upon 
his youthful mind. He made himself familiar with the books in 
his father's library, making considerable progress in the study of 
anatomy by himself without the knowledge of any one in the 
family. He followed his home studies with a course in the med- 
ical department at Bowdoin, from which he meritoriously gratl- 
uated in 1844. He settled in Canton where he married Miss Del- 
phina Hayford of that tov.m and practiced liis profession about a 
year. He then returned to his native town, where he soon gained 
a large professional business, wlrch was largely augmented dur- 
ing the declining years of his father by calls from families which 
had so long patronized the elder, wliich naturally went to the son. 
With the exception of a five years' settlement in Auburn from 
1878 to 1883. he has resided in lUickfield from the date of liis 
settlement till the present time and his active professional life 
covers about half a century. 

^lodest of demeanor, unpretentious of skill, seeking no hom)rs 
or emoluments from his fellow men, Dr. Bridgham has devoted 
all these busy years solely to his profession, never prominently 
engaging in any other affairs. He has always enjoyed the fullest 
confidence of the people and has earned a most excellent reputa- 
tion as a safe family physician. Physically strong and of an 
obliging nature, he has always faithfully 'ittended upon the sick 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD B59 

over a wide field of practice, readily exposinj^ himself to the rains 
of summer and snows of winter. Though of late years he has 
had some attacks of illness, yet he is well preserved for a man of 
liis years, and is now rounding out a life of usefulness and honor 
in the retirement of his old home, enjoying the universal esteem 
and respect of the whole commun'ty. 



DR. i^EOKGK W.VSHINCTO.V TURNER. 

Dr. George Washington Turner was the son of George and 
Betsey Turner of Leeds and the eldest of a family of eleven chil- 
dren, who lived to reach manlv od and womanhood. He was 
born in that town in ^larch, 1809. He was educated in the town 
schools and academies of neighboring towns, attended medical 
lectures in Philadelphia, and graduated fron-; Bowdo'.n Medical 
School in 1841. He began the practice of his profession that 
year in Dixneld. He married Luna Smith of Readfield, who 
died during liis resid.ence in Dixiield. I'rom that town he came 
to Buckfield where he married in 1855 for his second wife, 
Angerone Howe of .*>umner and resided in the house now occu- 
pied by Dr. Arthur E. Cole. After several years of successful 
practice here he moved to West Sumner. \\ here he followed his 
profession till h's death which occurred Xov. 4. 1859. He had 
good cjualifications for his profession an^l was a physician of 
ability and large practice. 



DR. CHARLi:S lAXA I'.RADl'.LK'i'. 

Dr. Charles Dana Bradbur\- was born in Canton. Me.. Jan. 
16, 1828. \\'hen twenty-one years of age he entered W'aterville 
College and remained two years wdien he left that institution to 
take up a course of medical studies which he comjileted in \'er- 
mont. He came to Buckfield, taught school extensively and in 
1854 married Malona R., daughter of Hon. Thomas Chase, and 
established himself in the practice of his profession. In his ed- 
ucaticnal work here he acquired a reputation as an excellent in- 
structor. He continued in practice here many years, and became 
considerably interested in local and political affairs, holding sev- 
eral town offices. He had scholarly inclinations and was a man 
of extensive rcad'ng and wide information. After his marriage 



360 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

he resided in Buckfield with the exception of a few years in 
Woodstock, nntil his death which occurred Dec. 15, 1892. Ow- 
ing" to poor health in his later years he gave up practice and re- 
sided on a farm near the viHag"e which is the present home of his 
widow. 

DR. CHARr.ES A. PARSONS. 

Dr. Charles A. Parsons, son of Col. Aaron Parsons was born 
in P)uckfield, Jan. 18, 1824. He attended the schools of his na- 
tive town and received his medical education in Ae^'mont. After 
his graduation he settled in .St. Albans, ^le. He subsequently 
practiced for a time in Wisconsin, but returned to St. Albans. 
He was in practice in Buckfield in i860, remaining about a year, 
after which he had settlement? in Hartland and Caribou and 
lastly in Friendship where he died in August, 1886. 

DR. ciiari.es burr bridcham. 

Dr. Charles Burr Bridgham, grandson of Dr. William Bridg- 
ham. was born in BuckfieUl, ^lay i, 1841. He commenced the 
study of medicine at the age of eighteen with his uncle. Dr. Will- 
iam P. Bridgham and subsequently graduated from the medical 
school at Brunswick. On the commencement of the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861 he enlisted as hospital steward in the Second 
Regiment, United States Sharpshooters and was taken prisoner 
at the second battle of Manassas in 1862. He remained in the 
Confederate I'nes two weeks and was released on parole, but re- 
mained a prisoner six months. During this time he came home 
and continued his medical studies at Bowdoin and Harvard. He 
was released from parole by exchange and appointed assistant 
surgeon and later surgeon of the 54th ^Massachusetts Infantry 
He remained with the regiment till the summer of 1864, when he 
resigned on account of physical disability. He returned to 
Buckfield and established himself in practice, having married. 
March 22, 1864, ^liss Addie M. Williams of this town. At the 
end of two years he sold liis business to Dr. Atwood Crosbv and 
settled in Cape Elizabeth, where he remained two years in com- 
pany with Dr. John Buzzell. The salt water proving deleterious 
to his wife's health, lie settled in Livermore, where he remained 
ten _\ears. He then returned to Buckfield, purchased a residence 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 361 

and remained in practice till April 18, 1887, when he removed to 
Cohasset. Mass., where he now resides, having a large and lucra- 
tive practice. He is a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows, 
having joined the former when a student at Dowdoin. 

Dr. Bridgham enjoys the prestige of a remarkable ancestral 
record in his profession, he being the fifth physician of the name 
in direct lineage from Dr. Joseph Bridgham, who graduated 
from Harvard College in 1719 and was a physician in Boston 
and the continuity of this professional line is to be continued in 
Dr. Bridghaiu's son, P\au1, who has recently completed his med- 
ical studies and is now associated with his father in practice. 



DR. ATWOOD CROSBY. 

Dr. Atwood Crosby was born in Albion, Me., Nov. i, 1838. 
He entered ^^'aterville College in i860, but on the breaking out 
of the war in 1861. he enlisted as a private in the Third [Maine 
Tnfantrv. was taken prisoner at Bull Run and remained eleven 
months in prisons at Richmond, \'a., and Salisbury. X. C, com- 
ing home on parole in June, 1862. As his parole prevented his 
return to the service, he commenced the study of medicine with 
Dr. X. R. Boutelle in W'aterville, and graduated from Bowdoin 
Medical School in 1864. Having in the meantime been ex- 
changed, he at once returned to the service under a commission 
as assistant surgeon in the navy, but after a service of about a 
vear a serious attack of chills obliged him to return home. His 
first settlement as a physician was in China, from which town he 
came to Buckfield in i8(36, succeeding Dr. Charles B. Bridgham. 
lie remained here nearly two years, receiving liberal patronage 
and then in 1868, accepted an olTer of partnership with Dr. X. 
R. Boutelle at Waterville and at once removed to that place, 
where he enjoyed the esteem of the public and an unusually large 
pract'ce during the remainder of his life. In 1882 he took a trip 
to Las \egas, X. M.. and died at that place, Jan. 25, 1883. Dr. 
Crosby was twice luarried. first in 1865 to !\Iary E. Hanson of 
Benton, by whom lie had one child, now the wife of A. K. Butler 
of Skowhegan, second, while in Waterville, to Mrs. Wilson, now 
of Dexter, by whom he had four children, only one of whom, 
^Irs. John E. Wilson of Waterville is now living. 



362 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

DR. ORKAX RENSSELAER II.MX. 

Dr. Orrau Rensselaer Hall was born in Naples, 'Sle., April 
2^, 1S38. He graduated at Bridgton Academy in 1859. giv"ng 
tlie prize oration and valedictory. He entered Bowdoin College 
that year, but remained at Bridgton during the two succeeding 
terms as instructor in the academy, keeping up his college studies 
there. He was chosen class orator in iSfSi, but near the end oi 
spring of that year he had an attack of iritis, which through mal- 
treatment, gradually destroyed, the sight of one eye and greatly 
impaired the other. This ended his college course abruptly, 
changed the current of his whole after life, made law his chosen 
profess on impossible, barred him from arm}- life in the Civil War 
and wrecked all his future plans and an^bitions. For fourteen 
} ears thereafter he was unable to read except for a few moments 
at rare intervals, but during" this period he taught several terms 
of high school, conducting the recitations from memory, as he 
was unable to use textdDooks. He studied medicine by being 
read to and listening to lectures and graduated from Bowdoin 
Medical College in 1867. In Xovember of that year he bought 
out Dr. Atwood Crosby at Buckfield and began practice, receiv- 
ing an ai)pointment as pension examiner the following year. 
In December, 1868, he married Mary R.. youngest daughter of 
Hon. Xoah Prince of Buckfield. In spite of his partial blind- 
ness his practice was large and successful for about fifteen year? 
in his various settlements. In the summer of 1872 he sold out 
in Buckfield to Dr. John C. Irish and moved to \\'eston, ^lass., 
where he was in practice till the end of T878, when a growing 
throat and lung trouble compelled him to leave the damp climate 
there and return to the interior of Maine, locating at South 
Paris. A carriage accident, followed with nearly fatal pneu- 
monia, incapacitated him for active practice, and he was ap- 
pointed to a position in the War Department at WashingtcMi, but 
after two months" stay he had to abandon it and was given a 
place in the pension office soon after, but was unable to do the 
work. Returning to South Paris he hastily closed out h's prac- 
tice there and came back to Buckfield completely broken down. 
Jie went to Boston for treatn-ient in the Spring of 1887 and on 
leaving the hospital in July he made a sea voyage to the Azores 
and iNIadeira. return'ng in December with health restored. In 
the sumn-:er of 1888 he became the rejiresentative of Reel 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 363 

^- Carnrick, pharmaceutists of Xew York, travelling" extensively 
in Xew Eng;Iancl and the West, and finally settling down in Bos- 
ton as their resident representative there. I/.iit his many misfor- 
tunes of life were not ended. In May, 1S94. scjme hits of glass 
penetrated the cornea of his remaining eye, gradually destroying 
the sight, an attack of lead poisoning came about the same time 
and after two years of sufiFering he was left blind, with health 
hopelessly impaired. He then bought the IJeacon David Farrar 
farm on the outskirts of the village, which he named "Saint's 
Rest" and built a plant for the breeding of thoroughbred poultry 
stock. During the succeeding years of darkness he found 
mental occupation in literary work and delivering public ad- 
dresses as strength permitted. l)ut in his last years he suffered 
great depression from his bodily ailments which resulted in 
death, Xov. 24, 1903. Xotwithstanding his early partial and 
subsequent total blindness, Dr. Hall had few superiors in schol- 
arly acquirements and literary versatility, having followed his 
early studies with a life-long familiarity with historic associa- 
tions and kept in close touch with the world's best literature. 
He was a book-lover in the truest sense of the term. Books 
\vere his daily companions during the years of his professional 
and business activity and his solace in the days of his retirement. 
\\dien a young man, contributions from his pen frequently ap- 
peared in the periodicals of the day which, with those of later 
}'ears. are characterized with thoughtfulness and graceful ex- 
pression. In the lecture field he deliveredi many admirable ad- 
dresses, especially on the various phases of the Civil War. 



DR. JOSKIMI CIIAMBEKLAIX CALnWELL. 

Dr. Jose])h Chamberla'n Caldwell, now an active practitioner 
in Buckfield, was born in Topsham, \'t., Dec. 3, 1842. He 
passed his youth on a farm, attending the district school and 
teaching. Resolving to study medicine he entered the medical 
department of Bowdoin College from which he graduated in 
1870, having in the meanwhile taken special courses in geology 
and chemistry. He was wholly de])endcnt on his own efforts 
and paid the expenses of his medical course by teaching school 
in winter and working in the hay field or at other manual labor 
in summer. In the autumn following his graduat'on lie came to 



364 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Buck-field through the recommendation of Fred H. Wilson, now 
a prominent pharmacist of tirunswick, who then had a brother, 
Albion D. Wilson, conducting- a drug store here. ()n the day of 
Dr. Caldwell's arrival here he met Dr. William P. Bridgham, 
tlien having an invalid wife and an overburdening practice, who 
cordially welcomed the young student, took him to his home and 
greatly assisted him in securing an independent practice. 

In December of that year Dr. Caldwell married Elizabeth P. 
Stanwood of Brunswick and settled in a home of his own. At 
first his professional calls were few, but they soon increased till 
he was fully occupied and durmg the past twenty years the ex- 
tent of his parctice has rarely been equalled in the history of 
country physicians. Beyond the limits of Buckfield and sur- 
rounding towns his professional calls take him along the whole 
line of the railroad and he is a frequent visitor with patients to 
the hospitals of Lewiston and Portland. He has always been re- 
sponsive to calls in all hours and seasons, often toiling through 
drifting, wintry storms by aid of snow shovels. During his 
earlier years in town he was frequently a member of the school 
board and in 1897 he was appointed a member of the board of 
United States Pension Examiners for Oxford County of which 
he is now president. . • 



DR. JOHN CARROLL TRLSLI. 

Dr. John Carroll Irish, who has risen to eminence in the med- 
ical profession of the country, was the son of Cyrus and Cath- 
erine (Davis) Irish of East Buckfield, where he was born Sept. 
30, 1843. When a lad on his father's farm he became an aspir- 
ing student and improved every opportunity with his limited en- 
vironments for study and self improvement, attending the vil- 
lage high school and teaching as a means of advancement. He 
spent three years in Waterville College and received his degree 
of A. B. from Dartmouth in ]868. He then entered upon the 
study of medicine, receiving his degree of AI. D. from Bellevue 
Hospital ^Medical College in 1872. His later educational ac- 
quirements included post graduate work in the hospitals of Lon- 
don and Paris. Previous to his settlement in practice he was a 
successful teacher in schools and academies. In 1872 he mar- 
ried Miss Anna M. Frye, daughter of Hon. William R. P>ye of 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 365 

Lewistoii and settled in lUickficId where he remained in success- 
ful practice till 1874. when he took advantai^e of an opportunity 
for a more desirable i)ractice and settled in Lowell, Mass., in 
which cit}' he has since resided. He soon ac([uired a large prac- 
tice and rose rapidly in his profession. He made a special study 
of abdominal surgery and was one of the first physicians in 
America to advocate early operations for ovarian tumors. His 
work in this specialty and contributions to its literature received 
prominent recognition from the profession both at home and 
abroad. He has been consulting surgeon at the Massachusetts 
State Almshouse since 1890, at St. John's Hospital since 1886, 
n.iedical examiner for the Mfth District. Middlesex Countv since 
the institution of that office in 1886. He is a member of the fol- 
lowing societies : ^^lassachusctts ^ledical and Surgical Society, 
American Academy, American Medical Association. Gynecologi- 
cal Society of Boston of which he was long president ; X'orth 
District Medical Society, president in 1895, ^"^1 honorary mem- 
ber of \'ermont State Medical Society. Dr. Irish has high rank 
as a surgeon and is an authority on medical subjects. 

DR. ALBEN CHASE W^HITM.\X. 

Dr. Alden Chase Whitman was born in IJuckfield, X^ov. 15, 
1846. He was the second son of Joshua E. and Phebe ( Foster) 
\Miitman. While very young he entered the academy at Hebron 
where he w-as fitted for college at the age of fourteen. The Civil 
War having broken out he enlisted in Captain Charles H. 
rVince's Company C, 23d Regiment. Maine A'olunteers, but was 
taken sick at Portland before being mustered in and was oblio-ed 
to return home. After several years' severe sickness he recov- 
ered and went West, wdiere he taught in high schools and 
academies with much success. He began the study of medicine 
at Ann Arbor University, Michigan, and completed the course at 
Dartmouth, N. H., where he graduated in 187 1. The same year 
he married Iza Gertrude, youngest daughter of James and Sarah 
(Hanson) Waldron and settled in his native town. A few years 
ago he removed to Hebron where he has since continued to prac- 
tice his profession. Dr. Whitman has always been interested in 
educational matters and has been a frequent contributor to the 
newspapers, chiefly of an historical character. Through his ef- 
forts much of the traditional history of the town has been saved 
from perishing. 



366 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

DR. JOHN FRANKLIN nECOSTER. 

Dr. John Franklin Dt-Coster was a nat'^ve of Hebron. He 
was born Sept. 9, 1857 and his early life was passed in his native 
town and Buckfield. He was studiously inclined and he directed 
all his energies to obtain an education. After many difficulties 
and with great perseverance lie graduated at Hebron Academy, 
Colby University and the medical school of Bowdoin College. 
He passed several years in teaching, after which he settled in 
Buckfield as a physician. During his residence here he became 
a member of the Methodist Church and was superintendent of 
schools several years. He was married here in 1887 to Mrs. 
Ellen (Abbott) Record, formerly of Rumford. In the spring 
of 1895 he moved to Rumford Falls where he soon accjuired a 
high social standing and a large professional practice. But he 
was not long to enjoy the fruits of his success. His constitution 
had become seirously impaired by several rheumatic fevers and 
after three years of flattering success in Rumford, his health 
failed and he died of Bright's disease, June 3, 1898. His body 
was brought to Buckfield for burial on the Sunday following his 
death. He was a member of several fraternal orders, all of 
which were represented at his funeral by large delegations, 
which numbered about four hundred persons, the largest fra- 
ternal gathering ever seen in Buckfield. He was buried with 
Masonic honors by Evening Star Lodge of wdiich he was a 
member. 

DR. WALTER I. BLANCHARD. 

Dr. Walter L Blancharcl, a native of Concord, N. H., came 
to Buckfield from New York, Aug. 18, 1895, succeeding Dr. 
John F. DeCoster, on the removal of the latter to Rumford Falls. 
He was educated in the public schools of his native city, Dart- 
mouth College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New 
Vcrk. In 1884 he married Miss Lena D., daughter of Gen. 
Charles E. Devens of New York. Most of his professional life 
has been passed in connection with hospitals in New York, Bos- 
ton and Nashua, N. H., and his success in the ligation of the 
femoral artery won commendatory notice from high medical au- 
thorities. While a resident of Nashua he became interested in 
the military afl^airs of the state and rose from the rank of private 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 367 

to the oflice of senior major in the Xew Hampshire National 
Guards, receiving the compliments of Gen. O. O. Howard, U. S. 
A., for commanding tlie l)cst battahon in the state. Dr. Blanch- 
ard remained in Buckfield until December 15, 1898, enjoying a 
good practice. He then moved to ]\It. \'ernon, X. H., and sub- 
sequently to Boston, where he now resides. He is a member of 
several med'cal societies and a Fellow of the L'nite 1 States 
Gynecological Society. 

DR. HARRY MARSHALL HEALD. 

Dr. Harry Marshall Heald, son of Joshua C. Heald of N^orth 
lUickfield, was born in Buckfield, Dec. 14, 1870. He attended 
tlie schools of his native village, graduate-i from the academy at 
Hebron, became a student at Bowdoin College, after which he 
entered the medical department of that college, from which he 
graduated in the class of 1897. After receiving his degree he 
passed about eighteen months at Rumford Falls in association 
with Dr. John F. DeCoster, then returnecl to Buckfield, where he 
has since remained in practice. He was married Dec. 10, 1898 
to Alice Gertrude (Carv) Heald of Salem. Alass. 



368 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
Annals Continued. 

1825. 
At the annual meeting, it was "voted to allow Henr}' H. Hutchinson 
eight dollars which he lost by fire." While ta.x; collector the year before, 
his house took fire and his buildings were consumed together with his tax 
books. He made out from memory a new list of those who hadn't paid 
their taxes, it is related, which not only satisfied the town, but also ths 
people who might have avoided payment, but did not. He was always 
held in the highest esteem by all those who ever knew him. The $8 was 
doubtless the town's money which he had on hand and had not turned 
over to the treasurer. — The jury box was revised this year as follows : 
Caleb Cushman, Eliphalet Packard, Benjamin Spaulding, John Loring, 
Leonard Spaulding, Thomas Long, Joshua Whitman, Noah Prince, Jonas 
Spaulding, James Bonney. Jr., Aaron Parsons, Nathaniel Harlow, James 
Jewett, Daniel Chase, Samuel DeCoster, David Farrar, Isaac Turner, 
Josiah Bailey, Henry H. Hutchinson, Ephraim Ricker. America Thayer, 
Richard Waldron, Elijah Jordan, Jr., Noah Hall, Larnard Swallow, 
Jonathan Buck, James Perry, Silas Austin, Isaac Ellis. Obadiah Berry, — ■ 
Jonathan Buck was licensed as an innholder and Spaulding Robinson, 
Zadoc Long and Lucius Loring were among those licensed as "retailers." 

1826. 
At a town meeting, it was' decided that the town meetings in future 
"be warned" by having the notices posted in Zadoc Long's store. — At a 
meeting in April, a vote passed to prohibit cattle going at large in the 
highways both summer and winter, but it stirred up such opposition that, 
in June, it was voted to let cattle run on the "highways and commons" 
till Nov. 1st of that year. — The town consented to receive "a strip of land 
off the southern part of Hartford with its inhabitants." In December, 
this action was reconsidered and it was then voted to remonstrate against 
"the petition of David Warren and others" to be set on to Buckfield. — . 
The contest for representative to the legislatu're this year was very close. 
The ballot stood thus: Aaron Parsons, 53; Samuel F. Brown, 48; Ben- 
jamin Spaulding, 3; Larnard Swallow, i. — This year there died in the 
town of Hartford where he had resided for 12 years, Thomas Allen, one 
of the very first settlers in Buckfield at the age of 74. His will probated 
in January, 1827, bequeathed his homestead to his wife, Dolly Ricker, dur- 
ing her life, then to George, their son. The will states that his other 
sons (by first wife) had received what he considered their share in the 
estate. James Ricker was the executor. The whole estate was appraised 
at less than $600. 

1827. 
Henry H. Hutchinson was chosen collector of taxes. — The sum of $30 
was voted for soldiers' rations. — Larnard Swallow was chosen to remon- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 369 

strate in behalf of the town at the court of sessions against the laying 
out of two roads. These roads were near the East Branch. One was 
petitioned for by James Morrill and others, nnd the other, by James 
Jewctt and others. — At the adjourned annual meeting in April, it was 
■"voted that the assessors procure a proper book for the records of their 
doings and to employ some suitably qualiticd person to make such rec- 
ords." It was also voted "to instruct the selectmen to inquire into the 
subject of John Buck's afifairs and lake such measures in regard thereto 
as they may think advisable without implicating the town in a lazi' suit." 
—The contest for representative this year was quite as exciting as that 
of the previous year, the successful candidate winning bj- only two major- 
ity. Benjamin Spaulding had 39 votes. Aaron Parsons had 22 votes. 
Daniel Chase had 13 votes. Samuel F. Brown had 2 votes. 

1828. 
At the annual meeting in March, a vote passed for the town "to stand 
trial with the town of Hebron," on an action brought by the latter against 
the former "for the support of Thankful Hodgdon, pauper." Also "to in- 
struct the assessors to go around the town to each man's house and take 
a new valuation of property." — The sum of $112 was raised to pay the fine 
imposed for the defective highway leading by Samuel DeCoster's to Hart- 
ford line. — The following were licensed to sell liquors this year "agree- 
ably to the laws of the State of Maine :" Enoch Crocker, Nathan At- 
wood, Smith Thompson and "Bray & Spaulding in Co." — It was "voted to 
instruct the overseers of the poor to provide such shelter for Webb's 
cow and corn fodder as they may think proper." — Tlie election for repre- 
sentative to the legislature was, as had been the case for several years, 
hotly contested. Dr. William Bridgham was the leading candidate, and 
when he was interested, there was "music in the air." He won out by 
the following vote, though his principal contestant was one of the most 
popular men in town, as shown by his election to town office year after 
year: Dr. William Bridgham, 117; Enoch Hall, 67; Aaron Parsons, 10; 
Daniel Chase, 9; Henry H. Hutchinson, 13. — The "Oxford District 
Elector," Dr. Cornelius Holland, Dem.-Rep., received 188 votes; Gen. Levi 
Hubbard, Nat.-Rep., received 69 votes. — By an act of the legislature, ap- 
proved Feb. 19, Benj. Woodbury, Caleb Cushman, Jr., Bela Farrar, Asa 
Thayer, Ziba Thayer and America Thayer and their estates were set off 
from Buckfield to Paris. The part set off included five lots of land in 
the first and second ranges, west division, and all the road leading from 
America Thayer's dwelling house northerly to the line of the town of 
Sumner. It was provided that they should take with them one-thirtieth 
part of tlie paupers of the town and that six ratable polls and $2700 be 
taken from the state valuation of Buckfield and added to Paris. Tlie 
parties set off were to pay all taxes assessed upon them in Buckfield and 
tlieir proportion (1-30) of the debt of the town. Provision was made, in 
case of disagreement in the settlement between Buckfield and Pans, that 
the matter be referred to three disinterested persons to be ^elected by the 
towns, whose decision should be final. Samuel I'. Brown was chosen 



370 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

agent for the town to settle the matter with Paris. — Mrs. Mary Buck, 
widow of Xathaniel Buck, died on the 14th day of Xovember, at the age 
of 7,^ "leaving 6 children, 69 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren." 
Hers was the third family to settle in the township. "She cheerfully met 
all iiardships, nor did fatigue ever prevent her from waiting on the weary 
traveller." — March 4 of this year. John Buck, one of the early settlers in 
Buckfield, died in Hamlin's Grant, now a part of Woodstock, at the home 
of his son. Simeon, at the age of 74. He had been an officer in the Con- 
tinental Army, having entered the service from Haverhill. He at one 
time was a large land owner in Buckheld. Later in life, he became sub- 
ject to periods of insanity. At one time he startled the people at church 
by loud cries at the door, warning them to beware of the wrath to come. 
At another time, he cut down the Liberty Pole near Dr. Wm. Bridg- 
ham's. which had been standing for niany years and was an object of 
great veneration. Xone was ever erected in its place. 

1S29. 

Virgil D. Parris was chosen moderator, also chairman of the supt. 
school committee. It was the beginning of a brilliant and notable public 
career in the state and nation, a career which terminated only when his 
party was thrown out of power. — Nathan Atwoo.i v.as elected town clerk 
and Dr. William Bridgham was chosen town agent. — A town meeting was 
called in May to elect "two persons to serve as delegates in a democratic- 
republican convention to be held at Augusta on the loth day of Tune next, 
to agree upon and to nominate some suitable person as a candidate for 
governor of this State, at the next election." Dr. William Bridgham and 
Daniel Chase were selected as delegates.- — The road as laid out "from 
Buckheld Village by Luther Turner's to Hebron" was accepted. — The 
selectmen were authorised to purchase or lease a piece of land "to settle 
the. town's poor buildings upon, now occupied by Mr. Samuel Webb." — 
The following men were chosen for their respective school districts "to 
examine the boundary lines in each district " and report : Aaron Parsons. 
Lamard Swallow. Caleb Cushman. Xathaniel Harlow. Daniel Chase. 
Sheppard Churchill. Henry H. Hutchinson. Isaac Young. John Brock. 
Joshua Whitman. X'oah Prince. Tobias Ricker, Jr. — The overseers of the 
poor were instructed "to inquire what have been the causes of our ex- 
cessive pauper taxes for years past" and what measures could be taken 
to prevent the increase of pauperism in the future. — The line between Na- 
tional and democratic republicans was sharply driwn this year. Gen. An- 
drew Jackson had been inaugurated President of the Cnited States on the 
4th of March and his supporters, everywhere, were stalwart partisans. 
Samuel E. Smith, the democratic-republican candidate for governor, had 
180 votes and Jonathan G. Hunton. national-republican, had 112. — The 
representative contest was a three-cornered one. Henry H. Hutchinson 
had n6 votes, Virgil D. Parris had 51 and William Bridgham had 34 
votes. — Jonathan Buck was licensed as inn-holder, as he had been every 
year from the first time he was so licensed. Africa Spaulding. Nathaniel 
Harlow. Luther and Enoch Crocker "in Co.." Isaac Parsons, Nathan At- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 371 

wood, William P.ridgliam and Lucius Loring v.-ere licensed as retailers 
and Daniel Young, as "Victualler, Innholder and Retailer." — The town 
lines were perambulated this year. The town decided to build a new 
bridge, a "little up stream from the old one, on the road near the Parris 
Pond farm so called." — It was voted that notices for future town meet- 
ings should be posted in Nathan Atwood's store, till the town should de- 
cide otherwise. — In this or some time in the preceding year, it is uncer- 
tain which, died Abijah Buck, the foremost man of the early settlers, at 
the age of 87. ILarly in 1828, he had given a deposition when he was 
too feeble to write his name. The wife of his youth liad died in 1816. 
To the property he had brought into the township, and that acquired from 
Jonathan Tyler, his father-in-law, he added large possessions from which 
he provided well for his children. His estate was settled before his 
death, a thing quite common in those days. He neglected to provide 
grave stones for himself and wife and though we know they were buried 
in the cemetery, north of the village on the Paris Hill road, the exact 
spot is uncertain. The town, Abijah Buck did so much to found, and 
which bears his name, is, however, a lasting monument to his memory 
and wortli. 

1830. 
Noah Prince was elected one of the selectmen this year. It was the 
beginning of a long career of usefulness to his town and honor to him- 
self and family. — The town appeared to be much troubled over the pauper 
expenses. — The democratic-republicans this year attained a sweeping ma- 
jority over the national-repul^licans. The vote on governor stood 234 to 
54. — Samuel F. Brown was appointed to petition the legislature for au- 
lliority to dispose of the ministerial and school funds. — Virgil D. Parris 
was chosen to draft a petition to the legislature to change the time of 
holding its sessions. — When the census of this town was taken this year, 
there were 78 persons between the ages of sixty and seventy; 30 between 
seventy and eighty; 4 (all males) between eighty and ninety and i man 
between ninety and one hundred. There were four negroes, three of 
whom were females. — On the 25th of April, while on a trip to Portland 
with a two-horse team, Lewis Morrill, aged about 22, was fatally injured. 
As he was passing down a hill in Falmouth, his horses became frightened 
from the breaking of a breeching strap. He was thrown to the ground 
and the loaded team passed over his body. He survived but a few days. 
— Caleb Young, one of the original 47 settlers, died Feb. 2, at the age of 
82. Nathaniel Gammon, another one of the original settlers, died on the 
13th of September, at the age of "/J. He had occupied his settling lot for 
Sfjme 50 years. 

1831. 
The sum of $525 was raised for the support of schools ; $3000 to be 
expended in labor on the highways and bridges. Voted to repair '"Shaw's 
bridge to answer to pass over the present year." — Voted to accept of a 
road "beginning at the middle of the road near Nathaniel Shaw's bark 
house, then a straight line striking the road on tlic hill near .\xel Spauld- 



372 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

ing's dwelling house." — At a town meeting in September, it was voted to 
build a new bridge over the East Branch near Nathaniel Shaw's. — Voted 
"that the Selectmen may deal out the powder now remaining in the mag- 
azine, for the use of the highway" and "to raise $i8 and lay out the same 
for a cow for Mr. Samuel Webb." — The following persons and firms wei^e 
licensed to sell liquors this year; Nathaniel Harlow, Samuel W. Ingalls, 
William Bridgham, Morrill & Atwood and Enoch and Luther Crocker. 
Jonathan Buck was licensed as inn holder. — The vote for governor this 
year was as follows : Samuel E. Smith, Dem.-Rep., i88 ; Daniel Good- 
now, Nat.-Rep.. 40. — For representative to the legislature. Henry H. 
Hutchinson had 130; Virgil D. Parris, 86; James Bonney, Jr., 4; Daniel 
Chase, i. — On the 25th of September of this jear, passed away Dea. Job 
Prince at the age of 66. He had settled in Buckfield about 1790 and 
raised a family of children, several of whom became noted. Two of his 
sons were presidents of the Maine Senate. One grandson served one 
term in Congress and another, but for his untimely death, would probably 
have been governor of this state. 

1832. 
Virgil D. Parris was elected town clerk, Larnard Swallow, trustee of 
the ministerial and school fund. — William Bridgham, William Cole, Benj. 
Spaulding, James Jewett and Lucius Loring were appointed "Fire 
Wards." — The following persons and firms were licensed to sell ardent 
spirits this year : Fphraim Atwood & Co., Samuel W. Ingalls & Co., 
Melzer Buck & Co., Nathan Atwood, Luther Crocker, Hiram Hall, Amos 
B. ^lorrill. Jonathan Buck and Nathan Harlow. — At a meeting in October, 
called to hear the report of the committee and observations of Squire Hall 
and others who may see and think proper to speak concerning the case 
between the town and Squire Hall in the matter of the pauper, Abigail 
Furbush, it w^as voted to discontinue the action of the town against Enoch 
Hall. — ^Virgil D. Parris was elected representative to the legislature by 
the following decisive vote: Virgil D. Parris, 158; Daniel Chase, 94; 
Henry H. Hutchinson, 18; Noah Prince. 4; James Bonney, Jr.. 2. — At the 
presidential election in November, the "Jackson Ticket" received 229 
votes, the "Clay Ticket" 45 and the "Wirt Ticket" 2 votes. — The "limits"' 
of the militia companies, as required by an act of the legislature, were 
established this year by the selectmen. That of Capt. David Farrar's 
company of infantry was "the West part of the town from the Hebron 
road and county road leading to Sumner by James Bonney's.'' — Capt. 
George Bridgham's company, "the northeast part of Buckfield to Twenty 
!Mile River, thence by Mark Lowells to Bog Brook, the W^hitman Pond 
and Hebron Line." — The southeastern part of the town was in the limits 
of Capt. Robert Martin's company, composed of men from Hebron, Buck- 
field, Turner and Minot. 

1833. 
At the annual meeting, Ephraim Atwood was elected town clerk and 
Virgil D. Parris, town agent. — James Bowker, Joseph Gilkey, Bennett 
Pompilly. Obadiah Berry and Ira Gardner, "Saxons." Voted "to author- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 373 

ize the constable to sell at auction to the highest bidder, Williamson's 
History of Maine after giving suitable notice." — "George and Orville 
Bridgham in Co., Cole, Taylor & Co., Ephraim Atwood & Co., and John 
and George Brock" were licensed this year. — Virgil D. Parris was re- 
elected representative to the legislature bj^ the following vote: Virgil D. 
Parris, 128; Daniel Chase, 73: Henry H. Hutchinson, 15; Benj. Spauld- 
ing, 8; Zadoc Long, i; Xoah Prince, i. 

1834. 
Axel Spaulding was elected tythingman. None had been elected for 
two years. — It was decided to prohibit neat cattle from running at large ; 
also, that warrants for future town meetings be posted in Ephraim At- 
wood's store— H. H. Hutchinson, Xoah Hall and Daniel Chase, a com- 
mittee chosen to settle with James Bonney, "ex-treasurer," reported that 
they had performed the duty assigned them, and were "of opinion that the 
said Bonney has performed the duty that was entrusted to him by the 
town with honesty and faithfulness according to the best of his ability, 
but that they were informed l)y him that there was $29.38 due from ]VIar- 
shall Andrews, collector for the year 1830, which, he said, Andrews re- 
fused to pay, alleging that the same had already been paid." Voted to 
discharge James Bonney from all liability as town treasurer and to collect 
the amount due of Andrews. — Artemas Cole entered into partnership 
with Ephraim Atwood. They did a large business for many years. — A 
vote passed to allow the selectmen and other town officers 75 cents a day 
for the time they were employed in the service of the town. — There were 
several candidates for representative to the legislature. Virgil D. Parris 
was again elected. He had 162 votes, a large majority over all. 

1835. 
George Bridgham, Jr., was elected town clerk and Sydenliam Bridg- 
ham was chosen collector of taxes. — The vote for representative to the 
legislature was as follows: Virgil D. Parris, 109; Henry H. Hutchinson, 
13; James Bonney, Jr., it; Daniel Chase, 9; Zadoc Long, 6; Noah Prince, 
7; Ezekiel Dammon, i. — Enoch Hall died Dec. loth. He was born Nov. 
10, 1763. His wife died a few j-ears after at her daughter's, Mrs. Abigail 
Doble's in Livermore. — Nathan Hall died July 22. He was a remarkably 
fleshy man and for some _\ ears before his death was nearly helpless from 
tliis cause. 

T836. 
Samuel Chesley was chosen collector of ta.xes. He was voted $22.50 
for his services. James Bowker, Boardman Faunce and Joseph Turner 
were accepted as his bondsmen. — Ira Gardner, Mark Lowell, Noah Hall 
and Obadiah Berry were selected as se.xtons. — The "limits" of the militia 
companies were again defined and established. The dividing line between 
the east and west companies was as follows : "The county road from the 
Sumner line near Col. James Bonne\ 's to Dr. William Bridgham's and the 
river bridge in the village and the highway from said bridge by Rolan 



874 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Foster's and Jesse Packard's to Hebron line. The territory south and 
east of the following line to be the limits in Buckfield of the company 
made up from parts of the towns of Buckfield. Hebron, Turner and 
Minot : Following the Twenty Mile River from Turner line to the 
Lowell Brook, up said brook to the Whitman Pond, then from said pond 
on Bog Brook to the Hebron line." The rest of the town to be the limits 
of the east company. — The town chose Samuel F. Brown. Doctor Corn- 
stock, Virgil D. Parris, Joseph Turner and Aaron Parsons a committee 
"to ascertain a better course for the support of the poor than that which 
we have heretofore pursued, if possible."' — The Van Buren democratic 
electors at the presidential election had T46 votes. The whig electors had 
15. — The vote on representative to the legislature this year was not quite 
so one-sided. Virgil D. Parris had 153; Xoah Prince had 48; Thomas 
Jrish had 6; Daniel Chase had 2. — There died in Woodstock, at the home 
of his son, Stephen, Feb. 27, 1836, in the 87th year of his age, Daniel 
Packard, one of the early settlers of Buckheld. His remains were buried 
in a ground or yard near \\here he died. His wife had died several years 
before and is said to have been buried in the cemetery above the village. 
Iheir earlier lives had been one of stirring incidents, adventure and in- 
terest. She had been a pretty Irish lass, who liked to play around the 
wharves in her native cove of Cork and talk with the sailors. An un- 
scrupulous captain enticed her aboard his vessel and brought her to Bos- 
ton where she was abandoned. Daniel Packard was of one of the first 
families in Bridgcwater. Mass.. and is said to have been engaged to be 
married to a daughter of high standing in the town. Where or how he 
met the bright-e^ed Irish girl is imccrtain but once seeing her. he had no 
heart for any other to the day of his death. He was straight as an ar- 
row, had a swarthy complexion, piercing black eyes and a stentorian 
voice. The admiration for each other was mutual and they were married. 
Their first child was born in 1774. On the outbreak of the Revolution, 
he enlisted and went into the army, serving on the Hudson. His wife 
followed him and in a small way carried on the business of a sutler. 
Packard was at the Storming of Stony Point, one of the most brilliant 
feat of arms of the whole war and the battles of Saratoga. They must 
have attained considerable notoriety, for the stories about their exploits 
and lives in the army in after years came to the ears of J. Fenimore 
Cooper, the novelist, who made them the principal characters, "Sergt. 
Hollister" and "Betty Flanigan" in his story. "The Spy." Any one who 
has heard the traditions which have come down to us about them when 
living in Buckfield will at once recognize how true to life Cooper repre- 
sented them in The Spy. But we have further e\-idence. Stephen D. 
Hutchinson, formerly town clerk of Buckfield and afterwards register of 
deeds for Oxford County, on a certain trip from Portland to Boston by 
boat was introduced to a Captain Coyle. who on learning that Hutchinson 
was from Buckfield said : "Ah from a famous town where Daniel Pack- 
ard and his wife lived. They were made the principal characters by Fen- 
imore Cooper in his novel, 'The Spy." I passed a day with him recently 
and he told me this himself." 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 375 

1837. 
Viryil D. Parris \va> clioseii as agent of the tOA'ii to receive its pro 
portion of ""Surplus Revenue" from the general government. This money 
v.as given by tlie government to the states. By an act of the legislature 
of Maine, this state's part was distributed to the towns. It was a source 
of much contention in Bucktield wliat to do with this money. It was at 
first decided to buy a town farm for the poor with it. $Jooo was voted 
and a farm was purchased. After a number of meetings, it was voted 
to distribute the money received from the surplus revenue to the people, 
each person to have his equal share. Several paupers, as the records 
show, received their portion. — Zadoc Long, Ltirnard Swallow, S. F. 
Brown, Doctor Comstock and Virgil D. Parris were chosen a committee 
"to draft a set of by-laws to govern the poor house." The report of this 
committee at a future meeting was accepted. — This was the yetir that 
Maine first "went hell-bent for Governor Kent," but Buckliild did not go 
that way. There was almost .200 majority fo.- Gorham Parks, tli? demo- 
cratic candidate. — As for several years past, there was a number of can- 
didates for representative to the legislature. Virgil D. Parris had 136; 
Xoah Prince had 66; Henry H. Hutchinson had 22; Zadoc Long had 18. 
The Foster farm on the Hebron road was purchased for the town's poor. 
— There was an epidemic of scarlet fever among the children this year. 
Tb,e disease was unusually fatal. Five children died with it out of the 
family of Henry DeCoster. 

1838. 
The third Monday of May was s?t for the selectmen to d aw orders 
j'or the people, for each one's share of the ""Surplus Revenue." The 
scenes around their place of business, when it was transacted, can better 
be imagined than described. Tt is worthy of an artist's pencil. — The town 
farm having been put in order, the paupers were taken to it and an over- 
seer engaged to nni it. — Tlie special election for a Representative to Con- 
gress, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Tinu)thy J. Carter 
of Paris, resulted in the choice of Hon. Virgil Vi. Parris. The vote in 
Buckfield stood tints: \^irgil D. Pat'ris, 211; Zadoc Long, 50; Xatb.'l S. 
Littlet'ield, 7; Jo.-eph G. Cole, 10; scattering, 6. At the regular election, 
for the full term, the ballot was as follows : Virgil D. Parris, 245 ; Zadoc 
Long, 57: Judah Dana, 3: Harrison Blake, 2; Jesse Packard, i. — This 
}tar occurred one of the most exciting contests for representative to the 
legislature that Buckfield ever experienced. The principal contestants, at 
first, were Xoah Prince and William Ifish. The former on tlie first 
ballot had 103 votes, the latter 88. Henry H. llutcliinson had 29, Daniel 
Chase and Axel Spaulding, 11 each. These men were all of tlie same 
party, the democratic. James Jewett, the whig candidate, started in with 
41 votes. Two ballots were taken wdien the meeting was adjourned. On 
tlie second ballot, the vote stood: Xoah Prince, 126; William Irish, 109; 
James Jewett, 24; scattering, 8. On the adjou:-ned day, two ballots were 
taken — the second one showing William Irish out of the contest and 
Daniel Chase in the lead as Mr. Prince's clrief op])oncnt. though lacking 



376 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

42 votes of the number Mr. Prince received on that ballot. Again the 
meeting was adjourned to a subsequent day, when Mr. Prince's vote rose 
to 130 and Daniel Chase's highest, to 113. James Jewett's highest vote 
was 28. The meeting adjourned for the third time and^_on that day, two 
ballots were taken before the contest was decided. The first one was as 
follows: Xoah Prince. 133; Daniel Chase. 141; James Jewett. 11: Will- 
iam Irish, I. Apparently, the bulk of Jewett's men, who had stuck by 
him up to this time, went over to Chase. The final vote stood : Daniel 
Chase, 153; Xoah Prince. 141: James Jewett, 7; H. H. Hutchinson, i; 
Henry DeCoster, i. 

iS39- 

Capt. Xoah Prince was chosen chairman of the board of selectmen, 
which showed that his hold on the voters of the town was still strong, 
notwithstanding his defeat for representative the year before. It fore- 
shadowed a renewal of the contest in September. — Jesse Packard, Abra- 
ham Lothrop and Albert Record were elected supt. school committee. 
This was done for sport. They qualified, but. at an adjourned meeting, 
others were chosen in addition. There were some fun-loving people in 
Buckfield in those days. — For some reason, questions growing out of the 
distribution of the "Surplus Revenue" came up several times this year in 
the town meetings. The action of the town, the year before, in distrib- 
uting it per capita was sustained. — It took three ballots to decide the elec- 
tion for representative to the legislature. On the third. Capt. Xoah 
Prince was elected. The following are the first and third ballots : 
First. Xoah Prince. 116: Daniel Chase, 88: \^'illiam Irish, 29; James 
Jewett, 20; Stephen Hutchinson. 10. Third. X'oah Prince, 121; Daniel 
Chase, 92; James Jewett. 14; William Irish, 8. 

1840. 

The people of Piuckfield voted twice this year for a representative to 
Congress. At the first ballot, Virgil D. Parris had 228, Zadoc Long, 71 ; 
X'. S. Littlefield, 36: scattering, 6. .\t the special election, the vote was 
as follows: Joseph Tobin, 120: Zadoc Long, 62; Joseph G. Cole, 40; X'. 
S: Littlefield. ^~ ; scattering. 9. — It took two ballots to decide the election 
of a representative to the legislature, the balloting being on two dif- 
ferent days. The following is the record of the votes: First, Xoah 
Prince, Dem., 118; X'athan'l Leonard, Whig, 63: Daniel Chase, Dem., 60; 
Joseph Turner, Dem.. 50 ; scattering. 5. Second, X'oah Prince, 1 19 ; 
X'athan'l Leonard, 43: Daniel Chase. 41; George Bridgham, Jr.. 16: 
Joseph Turner. 4. — At the presidential election, the Van Buren electors 
had 274 votes, while the Harrison electors had only 76. — Maine had again 
gone "hell-bent for Governor Kent ' and also for Gen. Harrison for pres- 
ident, but Buckfield showed no indications of the great political over- 
turn. One of the electors on the democratic ticket was Hon. Job Prince 
of Turner, a native of Buckfield. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIF.LD 377 

1841. 
On the i8th of January, a special election was called '"for the people to 
give in their votes to the selectmen for a representative, that is. an in- 
habitant of Oxford Congressional district to represent the inhabitants of 
their State in the Congress of the United States." David Hammcfns had 
68; Zadoc Long, 66; Joseph G. Cole, 60; Xathan'l Littleheld, 58; Joseph 
Tobin, 5 ; Jesse Drew, 2 ; A. D. White, 2. — Stephen D. Hutchinson was 
elected town clerk. This was a "Hutchinson j^ear,'' several of that name 
being elected for the principal officers. Voted "when Alvah Gilbert satis- 
fies the surveyor of his district that he has worked out his tax on his 
own road, the surveyor cross his tax." — The act of the legislature appor- 
tioning the representatives and senators caused a great deal of feeling in 
Buckrield, and a committee con?isting of Hon. Virgil D. Parris. Col. 
Aaron Parsons, H. H. Hutchinson, William B. Bennett and James Bon- 
ney. Esqs.. was chosen to draft resolutions to present to the town for its 
action. At a meeting called in May, the resolutions were presented and 
adopted. The town clerk, S. D. Hutchinson, recorded the resolutions in 
full. They directed the selectmen "to call a meeting to choose a repre- 
sentative to the legislature notwithstanding the act of apportionment." — 
At the governor election, the people of the town accordingly voted for a 
representative to the legislature as follows : Xoah Prince, 165 ; Win- 
chester Spaulding. 9; William B. Bennett, 2; scattering, 3. Capt. Prince 
held his scat. — Virgil D. Parris, for one of the senators voted for by his 
party, had 267 votes. The highest on the whig ticket was 59. — By an act 
of the legislature approved April i6th, David W. Swett and Chas. F. 
Davis were authorized to erect a gunpowder manufactory on "Basin 
Falls." 

1842. 
At the annual town meeting, Cyrus H. Coolidge, Virgil D. Parris and 
Thomas Irish, Jr., were elected superintending school committee. Capt. 
Joseph Turner was elected town agent. — It was voted "to raise %Z1 to 
help build a school house in Rolan Foster's district." — Voted "that the 
Overseers of the poor pay to Polly Hodgdon her proportion of the sur- 
plus money" Also that "the Selectmen be instructed to make out an 
order to Miss Fobes for her part of the surplus money." Another vote 
passed to the same eflfect in the interest of Lucian Philbrick. — Voted for 
the selectmen to make an annual report of their doings. — Virgil D. Parris 
was again elected as one of the State senators. — The selectmen were in- 
structed to have guide boards put up in necessary locations. — Voted to 
receive the inhabitants of Hartford who had petitioned to be annexed to 
Buckfield. — \'oted to have the town books kept in "Mr. Brown's office, 
if he will permit it free of expense." — At a meeting of delegates from 
Buckfield, Sumner and "Plantation Xo. 2," held at Jackson village July 
6th, to determine what years each town should send a representative to 
the legislature, Capt. X'oah Prince of Buckfield was elected chairman and 
Luther Crocker of Sumner, secretary. The Buckfield delegates were : 
X'oah Prince, Daniel Fletcher, Joseph Turner, Ximenes Philbrick, Jonas 



378 HISTORY OF BCCKFIliLl* 

Spaulding and Tame? Hii<>ey. It \\-as voted that Buckfield select the can- 
didtes for the years iS4-;-'44-"40-4«>-"50: Sumner for i&43-'45-"40 : PI. Xo. 
2 for i&i". — The vote in Buckfield this >-ear tor representative resulted 
as follows: Xoah Prinoe, 211; Nathaniel Leonard, 32; Tobias Ricker, Jr.. 
13. — In December of this >-ear. at the age of 80. Jacob WTiitman, a soldier 
of the Revohttion and one of the first 47 settlers who were given 100 acres 
of land by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed to the higher life. 
His w-ife, Abigail, died in 1837. aged Si. All of their children, except one, 
who died in infancy, lived to be over 7a One, Jacob. Jr., w-as 94 when 
he died. 

The guide boards were set up at the following comers : Xear Henr\- 
DeCosier's, James Bicknell's. Hall's bridge i.,:>. Ezekiel Record's, Capt. 
Parris" house, S^unuel F. Brow-n's o£ce (2). Doctor Bridgham's {2), 
Capt. Jonathan Buck's {2), Mark Low-ell's bam (2), Mark Lowell's 
house, William Morrill's (2K and Artemas F. Cole's store, "directing to 
riebron." — The treasurer was instructed to bum a S5 ball of '\incurrent 
money." — It was voted "to allow Virgil D. Parris his account as Siipt. 
School Committee, Si.oa" Also, to allow Daniel Chase's acc't. of S0L76 
and Xoah Prince's of Sol^jS "for town services," — Sunmer sent the represen- 
tative to the legislature this \^ar. It appears from the records that Buck- 
field voted tw-ice. once in Septemb«er and once in Xo\-ember. Alexander 
R>-erson and Capt. Lewis Bisbee were the princqtal candidates. The for- 
mer was elected. — ^A Buckfield correspondent of a coant\- newspaper 
sent the following list of Revolutiooary scJdiers and pensioners living 
there on the 4th day of July of that \-ear: Jonathan Record. Josiah Par- 
ris. Eleaier Parscais. Jabei Churehill, Thaddeus Pran. Benjamin Wood- 
bury-, Josiah Parsons, Toluas Ricker. I>a^-id Lowe. "Sial Smith, Thomas 
Bradbury- and Job Packard. — It w-as stated that the first w-as 05 \-ears old 
and the youngest. Si. and that they represented nearly ever>- important 
battle of the Revolution. Jonathan Record w^s but 03 at that time. Rev. 
Xathaniel Chase's name is missing from this list. — Jabez Churchill died 
August 16. He was bom at Xorth Bridgewater, Mass^ in 1750- He 
ser\-ed four \-ears and nine days in the w-ar. In 17SJ he first settled in 
Hebron, Me, and reroo\-ed his famih- to Buckfield in i;v»S. His w-iie 
w-as Maria Benson. They had 9 children, .14 grandchildren and <t: great- 
grandchnJren. 

I&44- 
Exi^el Record w-as chosen agent to take care of the town house. It 
was voted to mo\-e the tow-n house to scene place that the town can pur- 
chase nearer the village. Ira Gardner. David B. Record and Xoah Prince 
were selected to purchase a k>t of "Mr. Parris or some odier person." — 
The following persc«is wnere licensed to sell at retail strong Kqoors "to 
travellers to be drank in his shc^ and to town's people to be carried 
aw-ay:~ Ephiaim Atw-ood, Lorenzo Atwood and Levi Cashman "in Co.," 
Gcoise Bennett and lames Murdock and Ambrose Bock "in Co." Sydeti- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 379 

ham Bridgham as innholdcr was "forbidden to soil to an\onc who is 
known to use liquors to excess," and N. Harlow was licensed to sell 
liquors of all kinds for one year, but was forbidden to "sell to any but 
steady, sober people for medicinal and mechanical i)urposes." — Washington 
Long was one of the Whig candidates for state senator this year. He 
polled the full strength of his party in town, 53 votes. — The vote for rep- 
resentative stood as follows: Daniel Chase, 145; James Bonney, 120; Jacob 
Leonard, 49; scattering, 4. — At the presidential election, the "Polk Ticket" 
had 25J votes, the "Clay Ticket" 46, and the "Birncy Ticket," S. 

i 
1845. 
Ephraim Lowe was chosen collector of taxes. He was voted $17.50 
for his services, as he had agreed to take that sum. He was also elected 
constable in accordance with his agreement "to do the town's business free 
of expense." — The assessors were instructed to take a valuation of per- 
sonal property. — It was voted to otfer "Mr. Allen" $75 for the land on 
which the town house stood. — Sumner sent the sepresentativc to the leg- 
islature this year. Alexander Libby was chosen. 

1846. 

It was voted at the annual town meeting that Capt. Noah Prince, vvlio 
had been elected chairman of the board of overseers of the poor, "attend 
to the business himself, unless he thinks best to consult the others."' — 
The building of the Hall and Morrill bridges, "lately washed away" was 
authorized. Ezckiel Record and Martin Drake were selected to super- 
intend the erection of the Hail bridge and Henry H. Hutchinson and 
William Irish, the Morrill bridge. — Stephen 1). Hutchinson was elected 
this year register of deeds for the eastern district of the county. On 
entering upon the duties of his office in 1847, he went to reside at Paris 
Hill, which he made his home until his death, about 1808. — Buckfield sent 
the representative to the legislature. The vote in town was as follows: 
Ximenes Philbrick, 179; Albert D. White, 3^; David I!. Record, 24 ; scat- 
tering, 3. 

1847. 

No. 2, or Franklin Plantation, sent the representative to the legislature 
this year. Albert D. White was one of the whig candidates for state 
senator. — Appropriations for schools, $655; for support of poor, $300; for 
roads and bridges, $3500; for town accounts, $41.17. — At a county con- 
vention of the "Liberty Party," held at Waterford, July 5th, Tobias Ricker 
of Buckfield was nominated for county commissioner. — "Hon. Samuel 
Parris of Hebron, a native of Plymouth County, died at Washington, D. 
C, Sept. 10, aged 93. He was next to the last of the two surviving males 
of the first settlers in Hebron." — He was a brother of Capt. Josiah Parris 
of Buckfield and the fatiier of Hon. A. Iv. Parris. 



380 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

1848. 

The road "beginning near the school house between Rolan and Joel 
Foster's and terminating at or near Alexander Cushman's house" was dis- 
continued by a vote of the town. — The vote for representative to the leg- 
islature was as follows: Ximenes Philbrick, 168; Thomas Irish, 39; 
Robert Hayes, 15; Jacob Decoster, 3. — For representative to Congress, 
Rufus K. Goodenow, whig candidate, had 39 votes. His opponent had 
131. Mr. Goodenow had a majority in the district and was elected. He 
had been clerk of the courts for 16 years beginning with the admission of 
of Maine as a State. The town cleark for that year has recorded the 
result of the presidential election in town as follows: "Cass Ticket," 190; 
"Taylor Ticket," 27; "Abolition Ticket," 60. — John J. Perry was one of 
the Van Buren electors, dubbed "abolition" by the town clerk. — The Buck- 
field Branch Railroad Company was organized with the following officers : 
Virgil D. Parris, president ; Zadoc Long, clerk and treasurer. The con- 
tract for the grading, bridging and masonry having been let to Benson & 
Porter, the ceremony of breaking ground on the line of the road took 
place at the village, on the 31st of October, in the presence of 3,000 people. 
A national salute was fired by the artillery company commanded by Maj. 
R. B. Jennings. At ten o'clock a.m., a long procession was formed, which 
was escorted by the militia and the band from the square near 
the bridge to the spot where the station now stands. In carriages 
were the oldest living settlers, including five Revolutionary soldiers. 
Their average age was ninety years. The chief marshal was Col. 
Albert D. White. — Hon. Virgil D. Parris, president of the railroad com- 
pany, made the principal address of the day. Among other things he 
said: "With what veneration and gratitude do we welcome the presence, 
this day, of a few remaining soldiers of the Revolution. They are the 
remnant of that immortal band of Patriots who imperilled their lives on 
the battle field to sustain the country in that. bold and astounding Declar- 
ation that proclaimed us free. In the Providence of God, their lives have 
been preserved beyond the common age of man to witness the unrivalled 
prosperity of a Government they freely contributed to establish by years 
of perilous strife. And now, in the decline of life devoted to their 
country, how happily does the pleasing scene of peace and joy and hope 
on every side contrast with the condition of the country in the dismal 
times of the' Revolution." Mr. Parris was followed by Rev. Nathaniel 
Chase with an interesting address and earnest prayer. He was one of the 
five Revolutionary soldiers present and one of the first 47 original settlers 
who w-ere given 100 acres by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He 
was 87 years old. The oldest of these Revolutionary soldiers, however, 
was Jonathan Record, who was 98. "He helped bush out the first road 
ever cut through the town." The honor of first breaking ground was 
conceded to him for the foregoing reason. — He was followed by the pres- 
ident of the company, the Revolutionarj- soldiers and old settlers in fill- 
ing the wheelbarrow with earth. Then Capt. Josiah Parris, himself a 
soldier of the Revolution, aged 88, wheeled it off. One hundred guns were 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 381 

fired by the artillery, the band struck up "Yankee Doodle" and the people 
enthusiastically cheered. The procession reformed and proceeded to the 
"Xezinscot House," where about a hundred persons with the old settlers 
and soldiers as guests partook of a banquet. — The following Revolution- 
ary soldiers and pensioners died this year: Tobias Ricker, Deacon Job 
Packard and Jasiel Smith. The first two died before April nth. The 
latter passed away May 15th. Their ages respectively were 80, 86 and 85. 
— Dea. Job Packard was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in 1761, and was the 
youngest of a family of seven children. He settled in the southern part 
of Buckfield on the lot which he purchased of his oldest brother, Daniel. 
He bought other land adjoining and reared a large family of children. 
He was a deacon of the church for many years. 

1849. 
Dastine Spaulding was elected town clerk. — Thomas Chase, Frederick 
Foster and H. H. Hutchinson, Jr., were chosen superintending school com- 
mittee. — The sum of $60 was raised "to finish the new road leading from 
the county road near Rolan Foster's to Jacob Leonard's." — The town lines 
were perambulated this year and "former marks renewed and stone mon- 
uments erected." — Sumner had the selection of a representative to the leg- 
islature. Abel W. Bisbee was elected. — Benjamin Woodbury, a Revolu- 
tionary soldier, died March 3d, at the age of 89. 

1850. 
It was voted at a town meeting to discontinue the old road from Tim- 
othy Records' to the new- road near Alexander Cushman's, and to take 
measures to open the road from Buckfield village to Hartford line. — The 
sum of $200 was appropriated to rebuild the bridge in the village. — Capt. 
Noah Prince was a candidate this year for state senator and was elected. 
He was chosen president of that body and served two terms. — The con- 
test in Buckfield for representative to the legislature was as follows : 
Joshua Irish, 201 ; Sydenham Bridgham, 169. — On the 22d day of March, 
Rev. Adam Wilson of Hebron, preached a discourse at the Free Baptist 
church at East Buckfield on the looth anniversary of the birth of Jonathan 
Record. Text: Psalms, 48: 12-13. Theme — The influence of one genera- 
tion on another. Mr. Record was present and apparently was enjoying 
good health and received with much satisfaction the congratulations of 
both old and young. There were also present four aged men, whose 
ages with that of Mr. Record aggregated 427 years. 



382 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XXV. 
Temperance Movements. 

The evil effects flowing from the habitual use of New Eng- 
land rum and other ardent spirits as a beverage, which kept 
scores of families in extreme poverty, sent other scores to drunk- 
ards' graves and increased the ranks of the disreputable classes, 
early called the attention of the best people in ]\Iaine towards 
providing a remedy. This evil practice in the early days was so 
prevalent among all that it was quite generally believed that the 
use of ardent spirits was necessary. In most families at one 
time it was deemed to be as essential as sugar, salt or molasses 
and the account books kept by the traders during the early settle- 
ment of the town and for a long period afterwards, show that 
liquors formed no small part of the merchandise sold. Some 
families, tracing their ancestry to the Pilgrims who were driven 
from their native land by the tyranny of King James I and 
settled in the Old Colony and in other parts of the Common- 
wealth, were entirely run out by the use of intoxicating liquors 
as a beverage. 

At first, the agitation against rum-drinking produced little 
effect. Some preachers upheld the practice and the efforts to 
check the vice met with strenuous opposition. A society for the 
suppression of intemperance was organized at Boston as early as 
1812. It lx)re fruit and gave fresh impetus to the temperance 
agitation. Some dozen years afterwards, the American Tem- 
perance Society was organized. The proceedings of its second 
meeting, held in Boston, in January, 1829, were printed and this 
may be taken as the period when Temperance Reform be- 
gan with a well grounded hope of success. 

There were then some 225 of these societies in existence — 
thirteen of them being in the State of ]\Iaine. By this time, 
clergvmen, lawyers and physicians and not a few of the influen- 
tial men of nearly every town and hamlet took hold of the move- 
ment. The societies in Maine were at East Machias, which 
claimed to be the first one organized in the state. Prospect, Buck- 
field, Norway, Livermore, Portland, Gorham, Gardiner, Saco, 
Brewer, Brunswick, New Sharon and Windsor. It will be noted 
that three of these societies were in the county of Oxford. Tem- 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 



383 



perance thus early took a deep root in old Oxford and has grown 
steadily since. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, the first clerk of the courts 
and the father of \'ice-President Hannibal Hamlin, drew up the 
first Temperance Pledge in the town of Paris. 

It was presented to Elder James Hooper for his signature. 
He refused to sign it. At that time, the great majority followed 
Mr. 1 looper's example rather than Dr. Hamlin's. A Temper- 
ance cyclone struck the town later however and the elder's in- 
lluence was utterl\- broken. The (Jxford County floral Society 
liad been organized on Paris Hill in September, 1825. Under 
the auspices of the Moral Society of Xorway, in Julv, 1829, a 
large meeting was held at that village. Levi Whitman. Esq., of 
Norway, presided and Samuel F. Brown, Esq., of Buckfield was 
selected to record the proceedings. 

The Oxford County Temperance Society was organized the 
same year. Hon. Luther Cary of Turner was chosen president 
and Samuel F. Brown, Esq., secretary. Thirteen local societies 
were formed in the county, one of which was at Buckfield. 
From the reports given by the officers of these societies, it ap- 
pears that they met with great opposition. The members of the 
Oxford County Bar perfected a temperance organization about 
this time, wliich took in the court officials and others. The 
articles of faith were s'gned bv the following members : 



R. K. Goodnow 
Levi Whitman 
Timothy J. Carter 
Henry FarweH 
Samuel F. Brown 
Peter C. Virgin 
Levi Stowell 
Virgil D. Parris 
Charles Whitman 
Hannibal Hamlin 
Ira Bartlett 
Elisha Morse 
Ephraim Bass 
Stephen Chase 
John S. Barrows 
Stephen Emei'y 
William Goodnow 
Daniel Goodnow 
James Walker 
Joshua Randall 
Thomas Clark 
John Woodbury 
John Jameson 



Cyrus Thompson 
Wm. Warren 
James V. Poor 
George Turner 
Erastus P. Poor 
Abram Andrews, jr. 
Josiah Blake 
Robert Goodnow 
Isaiah P. Moody 
Reuel Washburn 
Timothy Carter 
Solomon Hall 
James Stair 
Augustine Hayes 
Albert G. Thornton 
S. Strickland 
Eben Poor 
Thomas Gammon 
David Gerry 
Ebenezer Jewett 
Daniel Chaplin 
Simeon Walton 



384 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

It was decided at a meeting of this society in 1833 that one 
or more persons in each town be selected to get signers thereto 
and Seth Stetson. Zadoc Long and Lucius Loring were ap- 
pointed to procure subscribers in Buckfield. Henry Farwell in 
Dixfield, Deacon Barrows and Dr. Carr in Hebron. Samuel 
Sewell in Sumner and Elder Daniel Hutchinson and Joseph 
Tobin in Hartford. By 1S34, there were 2"] Temperance 
societies in the county with about 3000 members. The Buckfield 
members of the State Society were Samuel F. Brown, A'irgd D. 
Parris and Albert D. White. 

The report from Paris that year was that "in 1833, 4963 gal- 
lons of ardent spirits were sold as against 7221 the year before. 
Expense for support of the poor from S300 to S350. one-third 
caused by intemperance. Three dram-selling public houses and 
five other retailers. Six intemperate heads of families who were 
so poor that S50 expended in sickness would throw them on the 
town." 

About 1841. the Washingtonian ^lovement sprang up. It 
began among some reformed drunkards in Baltimore. ^Id., and 
swept over the Eastern States like a prairie fire. The first lec- 
ture during this period at Buckfield was given by '" Father 
Hayes" in Xovember, 1841. People from far and near went to 
hear him. Many signed the pledge for the first time and among 
them was Capt. Lewis Bisbee who kept it inviolate ever after- 
ward. An organization was formed of which Hon. Mrgil D. 
Parris was president and Wm. B. Bennett, secretary. A Martha 
Washington society was formed at the same time among the 
ladies to aid the other organization. 

In the early part of the year, 1843. the sale of intoxicating 
liquors bv the gill or glass having become such an intolerable 
nuisance the best people of the town signed a petition to Artemas 
Cole, Ephraim Atwoocl Lorenzo Atwood and George Bennett to 
sell no ardent spirits to be drunk in their stores. It was signed 
by 174 of the citizens and among the petitioners were the ven- 
erable John Loring, Josiah Parris. Benjamin Spaulding. Lucius 
Loring. Col. Aaron Parsons. Rev. Geo. Thomes. S. D. Hutchin- 
son. Washington Heald and Xathaniel Leonard. Ephraim and 
Lorenzo Atwood"s names were also on the petition. Before 
Capt. Prince's name was the following: ''It was the intention to 
include all the retailers in town in the above request." A large 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 3^5 

petition for the same puri50se was also presented by citizens of 
Sumner. 

W'lien tlie act whicli lias since been known as the Elaine Law 
was passed it created great opposition in some parts of the state 
and particularly in the town of Buckfield and for several years 
after its passage, there was a very bitter feeling on the part of 
some of those who opposed the suppression of the sale of intox- 
icating liquors by statute. 

Seth Sampson of Turner entered with the greatest vigor into 
the matter of prosecuting those in Buckfield and vicinity, who 
were suspected of violating the law and for a period he was the 
best hated man in this region. In cases of importance he usually 
retained as his associate, Charles W. Walton, Esq., of Dixfield, 
afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court of Alaine and Hon. 
X'athan Clifft^-d, afterwards an Associate Justice of the .Supreme 
Court of the United States appeared sometimes as counsel for 
the defendants. 

In the enforcement of the law, a singular, yet somewhat 
amusing attair occurred in which the three Farrar brothers then 
living in the village were principals. Aratus Farrar, a constable, 
was active in seizing liquors. Probably some packages or ves- 
sels containing them were taken, which were not intended for 
sale and if claimed must have resulted in a return to the owners- 
America Farrar favored the prohibitory law and heartily sus- 
tained Aratus in his seizures. Ethic Farrar on the other hand, 
did not sanction the law. We never heard that he sold any 
liquors, though he like many others of that period did believe in 
their moderate use as being beneficial. He sent away for some 
liquors and when they arrived Aratus seized them. In a con- 
troversy in America's tavern over the seizure. Ethic claimed that 
Aratus pushed him on to a stove and injured him severely. He 
went home and took to his bed and called a physician to attend 
him. Ethic threatened to bring suit against Aratus and may ac- 
tuallv have done so. Heavy damages were claimed. The 
l)hvsician kept making his daily calls upon Ethic. The affair 
became the talk of the village and town. Finally America suc- 
ceeded in effecting a settlement between Ethic and Aratus by the 
payment by .\ratus it was said of some forty or fifty dollars. As 
soon as this settlement was made and the n-.oney paid over, the 
])hysician's visits were discontinued and Ethic ajipeared again 



88(5 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

on the streets. The supporters of the law loudly claimed the 
affair a cheat while the other ^ide said it served the constable 
just right as he should have let his brother's liquor alone. 

A more serious case which aroused great interest was the 
suit of James ^lurdock. 3d, against \'alentine Ripley. It was an 
action of trespass alleged to have taken place Janaarv 15. 1851. 
when Cyrus \\'ormell. a deputy siieriff. undertook to arrest a 
party for being a common seller of intoxicating liquors. The 
warrant was sworn out by Col. Aaron Parsons and Samuel Jen- 
kins, Es(T^, was the magf^strate who issued it. Alilrdock got mfxed 
up in the affair and as the defense alleged, '"resisted and ob- 
structed" the officer while in the discharge of his duty. There- 
upon \\'ormell called on Ripley for assistance and he rendered it 
in such a vigorous manner, as ]\Iurdock claimed, that he had sus- 
tained severe injuries and laid his damages at Siooo. William 
B. Bennett was the original counsel for Murdock but when the 
case came to be tried at the October term, 185 1, he had Mr. Clif- 
ford to assist him. \\'alton and Seth May. afterwards Judges of 
the Maine Supreme Court, were the defendant's counsel. The 
verdict was for the defendant and the plaintiff filed exceptions 
to some of the ruling's of the presiding judge and carried the 
action to the Law Court which sustained the exceptions and or- 
dered a new trial. The action was again tried at the August 
term, 1854. and was hotly contested from beginning to end. 
The jury a second time returned a verdict for the defendant 
which settled the matter finally. 

There was another case of scarcely less ir.terest. A suit wa-s 
brought by William Creasy against Aratu> Farrar for a barrel 
of vinegar which he claimed Farrar had taken and converted to 
his own use. The suit was brought before Joseph Dearborn, 
Esq.. of Hartford, a Justice of the Peace, who gave judginent 
for the plaintiff for $7.31 with costs taxed at S14.15. Farrar 
appealed with Col. Aaron Parsons and Joseph C. Shaw as sure- 
ties. When the action came to be heard in the Appellate Court, 
it was found that no papers in the case had been filed and Farrar 
thereupon began a suit for a review of the judgment. The 
declaration in Farrar's petition explains the whole matter which 
from its inception was a very ludicrous performance. It is as 
follows: "That your Petitioner was an officer of the law and 
with a legal precept was searching for spirituous and intoxicat- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 387 

ing- liquors, but did not take the vineq-ar or barrel as allej^ed or 
in any manner convert the same to his own use, but the same was 
taken in charge by the depot master who has the same safe at 
the present time in keeping- for the said WilHam Creasy, the 
plaintiff in said action of trespass. That the said Farrar, acting 
then and there as an officer of the law with a legal precept en- 
tered the place designated by said precept and carefully and with- 
out injury, examined the ban el of vinegar, doing no damage 
thereto and leaving" the same in the place there found. That he 
can prove by Aaron Parsons, Esq., that a warrant was duly is- 
sued and further by said Shaw and Jairus Harlow, the keeper 
of the place searched, that he made no other than an open and 
legal search in the due and proper execution of his office. Can 
also prove by the said Shaw that the barrel was marked "Rum," 
which induced the said Farrar to believe that it contained spir- 
ituous and intoxicating liquors. That he did search in good 
faith, examined the said barrel and found it to contain a different 
article and left the same by request of the said Harlow. That 
the justice who tried the case has been repeatedly called on for 
the recognizance and other papers in the case, but has ever re- 
fused to produce them, Ludden, Sampson & Walton for Farrar, 
Andrews for Creasy. The review was granted, h^arrar then 
brought a suit against Creasy and, at the August term, 1857, t'he 
defendant was defaulted by agreement of counsel for $15 dam- 
ages with costs taxed at $60 and thus this matter ended. From 
til is time, there were no more attempts to put the officers in a 
hole or to obstruct the administration of the law. Some doubt- 
less, violated the statutes but they were careful, if possible, not 
to be found out. 

When the Reform Movement commenced in the seventies, 
among those having experienced tlie evil effects of the habitual 
use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, it bade fair to rival in 
the excitement and good effects produced the old Washingtonian 
movement. Nearly every one of the principal places in Maine 
had its cluib and ladies' aid society. Buckfield had one of the 
largest and best in this section. It did a great deal of good and 
many signed the pledge who have sacredly kept it. It flourished 
for several years. Other organizations, notably the Sons of 
Temperance which had at one time a strong organization in lUick- 
ficld and the Good Templars for many years have been doing 



388 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

much good in the state and county and lodges of these orders 
have existed for a season at Buckfield. One of the later organ- 
izations worthy of mention is the Woman's Christian Temper- 
ance Union which is doing a good work to-day. 

We trust there will never be a time in our good old town when 
its people will not heartily support any movement which promises 
to better the condition of the comnnmity and keep up the stand- 
ard of sobrietv and moralitv. 



i 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 389 

CHAPTER XX\I. 

BUCKFIELD ViLL.ACE IN THE FiFTlES. 

A sketch of Buckfield village and its business in 1853 by a 
correspondent of that time to one of the local newspapers is 
worthy of reproduction here : 

''Being at this pleasant village soon after the })owerful rain 
storm of last week (latter part of May) I could not fail to note 
the unexampled freshet on Twenty Mile River, the beautiful 
stream which meanders through that place and affords one of 
the best water powers in this part of the county. The water 
overflowed its banks and covered the low intervale lands from 
Spaulding's M'ills (North Buckfield) to the village, presenting the 
appearance of an extensive lake, dotted with mounds, islands 
and beautiful elms. Buckfield village is a thriving and enter- 
prising place. It contains a large number of fine country dwell- 
ings, some eight stores, two public houses, several large me- 
chanics" shops and one large flouring mill owned by Messrs. Bis- 
bee & Co. The new public house owned by that noble specimen 
of Yankee energy, Mr. America Farrar, presents a fine external 
appearance and adds very much to the architectural beauty of 
the place." 

Farrar's ad in the same newspaper, under the heading of 
''Farrar's Hotel," contained the following: 

"It is the residence of 

Mec Farrar, 

Widely Known as the Largest 

Dealer in N. E. Cattle, Sheep 

and Fast Horses." 

"The flouring mill is well located. It has the advantage of 
a good water power. It has four runs of stones — two of which 
are for wheat. This mill is noted for manufacturing nice flour 
and it possesses every facility for such a business. Connected 
with it, is an apparatus for cooling the flour as it is ground and 
bolted, so as to admit of barrelling at once. It has a large and 
well arranged store house by its side, situated in close proximity 
to the railroad. This company has at times had in store as many 
as 5000 bushels of wheat. The Buckfield flour has a good repu- 
tation in the market. 



390 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The continuation of the Buckfield Branch Railroad is now a 
fixed purpose and some 120 men, scattered over about eight 
miles of the road are levelling the hills and elevating the valleys, 
preparatory to the passage of the locomotive. John Holmes has 
got hold of the business and it must go. The Iron Horse is des- 
tined to greet Canton next fall. The railroad instead of killing 
Buckfield as has been predicted, is just developing her resources 
and stimulating her enterprise." 

The Buckfield Insurance Company was advertised that vear. 
The following were the officers: President, T. W. Browne; 
secretary and treasurer, H. H. Hutchinson ; directors, J. W. 
Browne, John Skillings. Samuel Jenkins, Tesse Turner, Leonard 
Russell. 

F. O. J. Smitli. who had his headquarters at Buckfield, was 
engaged in the project of extending the Buckfield Branch Rail- 
road to Canton and having a steamer built to ply between that 
place and Rumford Falls. 

The headquarters of the -\rtillery Company wxre changed 
that year to Paris Hill. The captain of the company was R. B. 
Jennings. James R. McDonald advertised the Buckfield Brass 
Band. 

In i860, the village contained nine stores as follows: Hiram 
Hines's. Allen & Thomes's. DeCoster & Prince's, M. B. 
Thomes's, Caleb Cushman's, Ephraim Atwood (S: Son's. Atwood 
& Morrill's, Charles B. Atwood's and George Bennett's. 

Hiram Hines came from Hartford Center a few years before, 
where he had been in successful trade for several years. The firm 
of Allen & Thomes had existed for several years. Amory H. 
Allen, the senior member, also did a small business as a shoe 
manufacturer in a little shop across the street. It was located 
opposite their store where he employed several cutters and let 
out the work to be fitted and bottomed in the little shoe shops 
which were numerous in town and paid for it largely from the 
store of the firm. ^Ir. Allen afterwards went ^^'est and settled 
in Illinois. Samuel Thomes was a tailor. He first began busi- 
ness in Buckfield at Spaukling's Mills or North Buckfield, but 
soon afterwards moved to the village where he lived to his death. 
He is said to have been the first tailor in Buckfield. 

James H. DeCoster and Charles H. Prince went into the 
hardware business a few years before the war under the firm 




. . - w>.U. ttt -J . 



'♦nevt AttCU 4 /W^h-i*- /.^ 



/T*f c 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 893 

name of DeCoster & Prince. They were very j^opular and did 
•I good business. 

^Nfoses B. Thomes occupied the Lorint^ store as a dealer in 
dry goods and groceries. Caleb Cushman was a dealer in dry 
goods. Ephraim Atwood «S: Sons kept the largest stock of dry 
goods and groceries and also medicines and did a lieavv busi- 
ness. Charles B. Atwood was a very popular trader in the mill 
store. Atwood & Morrill in the store near the bridge also did a 
large business. 

The lawyers were Sullivan C. Andrew^s and T. Jefferson 
Bridgham. Seth Sampson of Turner also did quite a law busi- 
ness here in courts of Justices of the Peace. John D. Long and 
Timothy Andrews were law students. The physicians were 
William Bridgham. his son, William P. Bridgham and Charles 
D. Bradbury. Hcai. Xoah Prince usually tried such causes a.> 
were brought before magistrates. 

Gov. Long writes that at the time in his boyhood when the 
railroad was built to Buckfield, it gave a great impetus to the vil- 
lage life. The population increased. Young men came in. So- 
cial life was stimulated. Among other things a military company 
was raised. Dr. R. B. Jennings, the dentist, an active man, 
whose long ringlets are remembered, was captain. The number 
of privates was large and Ximenes Philbrick was lieutenant and 
afterwards captain. The bright scarlet coats and nodding head- 
gear and serried ranks made a great impression and gave to the 
muster field on the south of the cross road that runs from the 
North Hill road to the Turner road, a very animated and pic- 
turesque appearance. Of course a Brass Band had been organ- 
ized by Ike MacDonald, a mason, who had recently moved into 
town from Lowell, -Massachusetts, and who also took part in 
theatricals in the old town house. A teacher, named Robbins 
from Lowell came and drilled the band. Jim MacDonald was 
leader and he and two other members, Henry C. Long, and Del- 
phinus Harlow afterwards became leaders of military bands in 
the Union army during the Civil War. Moses Thomes played a 
cornet called a "cornopeon."" and the governor says that lie can 
still hear across the river in the quiet atmosphere of summer eve- 
ning the notes of that cornopeon as " Alose,*' sitting on the door- 
steps of the house on Hebroi^ street close to the railroad crossing. 
I^racticed, not always successfully, the music of his part. 



894 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The amusements then were somewhat different from now. 
In the winter the boys sHcl clown hill from the old school house at 
the top and coasted over the bridge at the risk of running into 
somebody or something in the square. It was thus that Carroll 
Loring ran into Air. Don Daggett, the well-known hatter and 
Major Loring. Carroll's father, had to pay damages. This was a 
traditional warning to all the rest of us. 

Thanksgiving and the Fourtli of July were the leading holi- 
days. On the latter, Capt. Josiah Parri> every year at sunrise 
came to his outer door and fired the old King's arm which he had 
carried in the Revolutionary War. The flag floated out from 
over "Bridgham's store" on tlie southeast corner of the bridge. 
If there was a "celebration," it was often a Temperance proces- 
sion and a speech in the grove. Christmas was not observed. 
The old Puritan prejudices against the observance of the day had 
resulted in its lack of recognition. Xew Year's Day brought 
gifts but in no such profusion as now and there was usually a ball 
in the village or in some neighboring village. Fast Day was a 
holiday. Usually on that day Loring Hill had become bare of 
snow and, if so, tliere was a game of round ball on it. 

The A'illage Scjuare, where now stands the round iron water 
tank was often a lively scene. Baseball and "Xines" did not then 
exist. But round ball was played, sides being chosen by two 
players putting alternate hands on the bar (or as we called it the 
cat stick), the one first reaching the top having the first choice. 
The ball was not hard but soft and a player was put out either by 
being caught out as now, or by being struck by the ball thrown 
at him when running for a base, or as we then said a gool, mean- 
ing goal. It was a soft ball, compared with now, but it some- 
times stung pretty smartly. 

In this square, too, on Saturdays were the wrestling matches, 
now no more. Saturday afternoon the village was full. Teams 
came in from miles around. Every shed and hitching place and 
roadside near the village were occupied. Purchases were made at 
the stores and all sorts of produce and other articles brought in 
for barter by the farmes and their wives. Politics and religion 
and horses were discussed. A great crowded ring was formed 
on the square and in that the wiestlers contended, the vanquished 
bringing in from the crowd some one to meet the victor. Some 
distinguished reputations were made. There was Deck Record, 







bJ) 



3 




in 

S 

3 



> 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 397 

who was as elastic as an eel ; ^lec Benson who was reckc^med 
c'imong the best and tall Fred Berry whose f anions "swinging 
trip" laid low every contestant. 

How it all comes back ! Of what concern was then the whole 
world outside, when in that little village, to our boyish minds, 
were accumulated and centered all the interests, all the delights, 
all the srlories of life. 



898 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



CHAPTER XX\"II. 



Latkr Education \i. History 



In 1822, efforts were made to establish an institution of learn- 
ing where pupils might obtain a higher education than the com- 
mon schools afforded and several of the leading citizens of the 
town petitioned the Legislature of the State to incorporate such 
an institution under the name of "The Buckfield Grammar 
School." The petition was favorably received and acted ujjon. 
The incorporators were : 



Samuel F. Brown 
Wm. Bridgham, jr. 
William Cainpbell 
William Cole 
John Loring 



Thomas Longr 
Josiah Parris 
John Warren 
Eliphalet Packard 



They were appointed trustees of the school. The Act states 
"That there be and hereby is established in the town of Buckfield, 
in the county of Oxford, a school by the name of the Buckfield 
Grammar School for the purpose of promoting piety, virtue and 
the education of youth, in the several branches of literature as 
the trustees hereafter may direct. It became a law, June 30, 
1822. 

We think that the petitioners made a mistake. Though, to all 
intents and purposes, it was a high school in everything but the 
name, it should have been denominated an academy and meas- 
ures taken to establish it on a firm foundation. Paris and Nor- 
way did not take action in the matter of establishing academies 
till more than 25 years afterwards. The (irammar School, liow- 
ever, started auspiciously. Rev. William Pidgin, grandfather of 
the present business manager of the Lewiston Journal, was en- 
gaged as preceptor. A large number of students from Buckfield 
and neighboring towns attended and the school attained quite a 
reputation. .V large number was graduated. .Many of them 
became in after years very successful school teachers. Among 
the students were Israel Washburn, afterwards governor of 
Maine; George F. Emery, afterwards clerk uf the district cmirt 
of the I'nited States auvl Stephen O. Hutchinson, register of 
deeds. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



399 



The following- is a list of the Buckfiekl students in 1841 



Charles Atwood 
Albion P. Bonney 
Josiah K. Bonney 
Wm. P. Bridgham 
Wm. L. Cole 
Aurelius V. Cole 
Wni. E. Corns tock 
William Dag:g:ett 
Oscar F. Gardner 
Chandler Hutchinson 
;Mark Hutchinson 
John C. Hutchinson 
John L. Jewett 
Kalph C. Jewett 
Alpheus A. Keen 
John A. Lovell 
Geo. W. Long- 
C. Carroll Loring 



Zadoc Long, Jr. 
Charles A. Parsons 
J. Greenleaf Record 
P'rederic A. Spaulding 
Ozen Spaulding- 
Wm. F. Spaulding 
Nathaniel T. Shaw 
Mary Ann Brown 
Maria L. Cole 
Adelia B. Comstock 
Columbia Gardner 
Brittania Gardner 
Chloe Hathaway 
Julia D. Long 
Persis S. Long 
Jennette Loring 
Sarah L. Prince 
Sarah J. Perry 



EtTorts were made that year to have the school incorporated 
and an act was passed hy the Legislature which was approved 
Alarch 3, 1842 establishing "The Buckfield High School and Ly- 
ceum." The followins: were named bv the act as trustees: 



Samuel F. Brown 
Zadoc Long 
Lucius Long 
Valentine Ripley 
Rodney Chaffln 
Addison G. Cole 
Ira Gardner 
James Jewett 



Virgil D. Parris 
Samuel B. Perry 
Wm. W. Comstock 
Cyrus Cole 
Ephraim Atwood 
James Bonney 
Albert D. White 



Of the educational interests of that period. Governor Long 
writes : 

"]\Ioses Emery, about 1820, kept an academy in the building 
afterwards burned, which stood on the northwest corner of the 
village bridge, where is now the store of W. C. Allen. Pupils 
came from other towns, among them Julia Temple Davis from 
New Gloucester, who became the wife of Zadoc Long. 

About 1840, a very creditable movement was made to estab- 
lish a permanent 'Buckfield High School and Lyceum." A large 
and commodious building was erected on the east side of the road 

to Paris, where the house of Mr. Tuttle now stands. It 

had a spacious school room in the rear. In front, between the 
two entrances was a good-sized room with capacious shelves for 
apparatus for natural philosophy, chemistry and electricity. 
There is still extant a printed catalogue (1841) of this school and 



400 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

lyceum. From that it appears that the "Directors" were Zaduc 
Long. Samuel F. Brown. \\'. W. Comstock, Wilham Cole and 
James Jewett. The Instructors were Rev. Cyril Pearl, principal 
teacher in Xatural Sciences and Alental and floral Philosophy; 
Mr. Joseph C. Richardson, A.U., afterwards replaced on his re- 
tirement by ]\Ir. \A'm. H. Hayford, teacher in Languages and 
^lathematics, and Aliss Emeline Smith, the spring term, and 
^Nliss Phebe P. Richardson, the fall term. Some of the pupils 
acted as assistants. The Catalogue shows 105 male and 56 
female pupils. Of these loi were from various other towns, 
some at a good distance, such as Bangor, Bath, Bowdoinham, 
X^ew Gloucester, Rumford, Andover, Livermore, etc. These 
pupils boarded at the houses of the leading citizens. It is very 
interesting to read the names in the catalogue and to think of 
men and women, whom we have known in their old age, then in 
the very freshness of youth. Tuition was $3.00 a term, or $4.00 
if covering higher branches. Board in good families, from 
$1.25 to $1.50 a week. 

The Catalogue states that the design was (ist) to qualify 
teachers for common school, (2nd) to encourage regard for 
productive industry, (3rd) to extend a knowledge of the 
resources and interests of ^Nlajne, and (4tli) to prepare pupils 
for the relations and duties of common life. Is there a better 
design to-day for the higher education? The Evening Lyceum 
was devoted to discussion of methods of education, general 
extemporaneous debate and the reading of original articles. 
There was a cabinet of geological, and mineral specimens, and a 
library of several hundred volumes w-as accessible. 

One is struck with the worthily ambitious and large spirit 
of this institution. It suggests at once the element of culture 
that then animated Buckfield's leading citizens. It also suggests 
the active and progressive character of Cyril Pearl, the principal. 
He is now forgotten, but he was a man of very energetic tem- 
perament, who evidently had the idea of founding a permament 
educat'onal institute and of concentrating in it the whole 
range of intellectual, culture. He may h.ave undertaken more 
than he could effect, and as there was no financial fund or other 
resource than tuition fees, and as tlie community was hardly 
large enough to sustain this enterprise, it soon reached its 
climax. ^Ir. Pearl, who perhaps was of a restless nature. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIF.LD 401 

sorght new fields, the schoolhouse was ncnv and then used for 
a term or two for a private school, taught hy occasional teachers, 
but later, about 1849, "^^'^'is '^o\d to Hiram Hall, a trader in the 
village, who convertetl it into the present dwelling house." 

When the project of building the railroad was startetl, it 
absorbed the great attention and efforts of the leading citizens 
of the village and town, and wh'le other towns were establish- 
ing academies or high schools, the educational interests of lUick- 
field were mucli neglected. 

The railroad was built. A great sum of the people's money 
was sunk in the enterprise (estimated to have been over 
Sioo.ooo). It ]xiralyzed, to a great extent, their efforts in 
other directions, and the favorable opportunity for establishing 
a higher institution of learning on a firm basis had passed. 

Other towns had got the start and done this, yet a school 
where higher branches have been taught, fitting the student 
for a business or clerical life or for school teaching, has ever 
since been maintauied. 



402 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XX\"Iir. 

BuCKFIELL! IX THE ReIIELLIOX. 

The social and political developments of Buckrteld, during: 
the twenty years preceding" the \\'ar of the Rebellion, were 
retfective of the progressive spirit of the country at large, varied 
with local cliaracteristics and coloring. It was an era of 
transition from the old order of things, inherited from Colonial 
days and under which our National Federation had been con- 
stituted, to broader levels of public advancement and higher 
conceptions of human rights. The great questions of public 
interest, growing out of slavery in the States and it< extension 
in the Territories, were then indelibly tracing their historic 
impressions upon the whole country; and. from the continued 
agitation and controversies of that period were evolved political 
creeds that meant niore than party name, that stood out in bold 
relief, with burning issues and convictions in touch with the 
throes of humanity. 

For many years slavery had been a prolific source of unrest 
and disturbance among the people, and. as time had advanced, 
expanding the national wealth and population, the agitation 
of this question had steadily increased, resulting in many acts of 
violence and drawing a sharp sectional line between the North- 
ern and Southern portions of the country. To relieve the ten- 
sion between the forces in radical opposition many Congres- 
sional measures had been enacted, com])romises had been 
a.dopted and court decisions had been rendered, but these had 
generally proved obnoxious to the people of the Xorth and 
been regarded as under the domination of slave-holding 
interests. 

Prominent among these n.ieasures were the iMissouri Com- 
promise in 1S20, the celebrated Dred Scott case and the Fugitive 
Slave laws, with their thrilling associations of escaping negroes 
and "Underground Railway."' The acrimon'ous diiscussions of 
these measures in Congress and in the press, associated with 
the story of blood and outrage in Kansas, the assault on Charles 
Sumner, the frequent acts of mob violence, and many other 
turbulent events in various parts of th.e country, coming in 
rapid succession, kept the public mind in a fever of excitement 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 40B 

till the raid of John Brown at Harper's Ferry, \ a., in 1859, 
which brought the country almost to the verge of that impcnd- 
nig conflict of arms, which no mortal power could avert. 

In i860 Abraham Lincoln was elected to the I'residencv, 
and, notwithstanding his conciliatory inaugural, his election was 
taken by the South as a pretext for dissolution of the Union. 
Soon after, eleven Southern States, led by South Carolina, 
declared for secession, uniting under a central government as 
the Confederate States of America. 

During these historic years every community, however small 
and obscure, was keenly alive to the progress of public events. 
The people of Buckfield, at an early day, became deeply inter- 
ested in the great National controversy, the agitation of which 
enlisted their radical sympathies and gradually revolutionized 
their political creeds. There were ardent followers of Garrison 
and his co-workers, who were ever ready to wage controversial 
warfare and who gloried in the name of Abolitionist. On the 
other hand were men of large influence and political following, 
who spared neither argument nor ridicule to counteract the 
so-called heresv. To them slavery was an institution protected 
by law and under divine sanction and too deeply rooted in the 
social system of the country to be overthrown. The periodical 
literature of the day teemed with sensational reports and 
pass'Onal reviews of public afl'airs ; and these features of the 
weekly newspapers were eagerly read and discu.«sed in every 
household. Xo book was more widely read than Mrs. Harriet 
Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, pidDlished in 1852, which 
elicited the warmest commendation and the most scathing and 
violent criticisms. Under the guise of hctinn its ])athetic story 
stirred the sympathies of the people in their homes more deeply 
than anv other publication and exercised a notable influence on 
the political situation. 

The potent influences, that were molding public sentiment 
in those days, gradually wrought perceptible changes in the 
political atmosphere of Buckfield, obscuring old issues and 
evolving from their disintegration doctrines of public ])olicy 
in vital touch with passing events, 'i'he Presidential votes of 
the town afford a suggestive exponent of this change : 

In 1852 Franklin Pierce, Democrat, received two hundred 
and six votes against fortv for W'infield Scott, ^^'hig, and sixtv 



404 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

for John P. Hale, Free-Soiler ; in 1856 Buchanan, Democrat, 
received one hundred and seventy-four votes against two 
hundred and twenty-one for John C. Fremont, Repubhcan, and 
in i860 Abraham Lincohi, Repubhcan, received two hundred 
and fifteen votes against one hundred and forty-one for Stephen 
A. Douglass, Xortherr Democrat, and sixteen for John C. 
Breckenridge, Southern Democrat. 

Such was the political complexion of Buckfield on the eve 
of tlie war, but when the tocsin of actual war sounded and the 
whole country was profound!}' moved with the bombardment 
and capture of Fort Sumter, in April, 1861. with few exceptions, 
all party differences vanished, and this town became one of 
the little centres of most intense excitement. People from sur- 
rounding towns flocked to the village, gathering in anxious 
groups in shops, stores and streets, eagerly discussing the 
startling situation and awaiting further news from the scene 
of disturbance. The community was stirred as never before 
with national pride and patriotic sentiments. \\'ar. which all 
had vaguely anticipated, had actually comiC, though few dreamed 
of its subsequent magnitude and stern, uncompromising nature. 

The subsequent call of tlie President for troops and the 
startling events associated with it roused the whole Xorth and 
fired this commimity with a spirit of martial enthusiasm, inspir- 
ing our people with a vivid sense of loyalty and devotion to the 
Xation. They were ready for action and organization. Public 
meetings were at once called in the .old Union Chapel, which 
became the Faneuil Hall of Buckfield. These meetings usually 
filled the house to its utmost capacity, and are now recalled as 
among the most emphatic expressions of public feeling in the 
history of the town. Under the enthusiasm of these occasions 
young and middle aged men pressed forward to enlist, old men 
offered their services for camp and hospital, business men 
offered contributions of money and staid citizens became impas- 
sioned orators, wliile the old house rang with cheers and 
patriotic songs. 

After so many years of uninterrupted peace the beg nning 
of active hostilities found the country poorly prepared for the 
emergency of war. But Maine was fortmiate in an able Gov- 
ernor. Lsrael ^^"ashburn, Jr.. and his efficient assistant, Adjutant 
General John P. Hodsdon. A special session of the Legislature 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 405 

was convened to consider tlie demands of the situation, at which 
an act approved April 25th, 1861, was passed which provided 
for raising ten reg-iments of vohuiteers for a service of two 
years. To this call the people of I'uckfield responded with a 
tender of a full company. The com])any was soon enlisted and 
organized, and the village streets daily echoed to the tramp of 
marching men. \\'illiam H. Bridgham and Alphonzo F. 
Warren, then mere boys, both of whon.i later served as musicians 
in the army, played the fife and drum, and James H. Keyou, 
a former Portland militiaman, was drill-master. The election 
of the company officers, after an active canvass, was the occa- 
sion of considerable excitement and much liitterness of feeling. 
Isaac H. ^IcDonald was unanimously elected captain, but the 
office of first lieutenant was hotly contested between John E. 
Bryant, principal of the village high school, and Jolm P. Swasey 
of Canton. Swasey won the election and Bryant was chosen 
second lieutenant; but, in a vehement speech, he immediately 
declined to serve under Swasey. lUit the history of this com- 
pany was of short duration. The declination of the govern- 
ment to receive at that time more men from Maine for less 
than a service of three years, caused its disijauvlment. and most 
of its members scattered into other military organizations, 
reveral enlisting in the 5th and 8th Regiments. Another full 
company was recruited in Puckfield for nine months' service 
in 1862, under Captain Charles H. Prince, which included thirty 
Buckfield men. The company was mustered in as Co. C, 23d 
Regiment. Sept. 29, 1862, and mustered out at Portland, July 
15, 1863. having lost one member by d'scharge for disability 
and two by death. The company was employed in detail and 
guard duty in the vicinity of Washington. Harpers Ferry, and 
other places. It represented the largest number of soldiers 
from Buckfield in any one organization. The next largest 
bodies were seventeen men in the 20th Regiment in 1862, and 
twenty in the 5th Mounted Battery in 1864. 

The long continuance of the war called for a vast number 
of men and immense expenditure of money, which severely 
taxed the resources of the country ; but the demands upon the 
Town of Buckfield were promptly and generously met. Its 
various quotas of soldiers, under the successive calls of tlie 
Pre-ident, were promptly filled with volunteers, cxce]iting that 



406 HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 

of 1863, when a draft was ordered. However, only one drafted 
man, James ^I. Chesley, appeared in the service from Buckfield. 
He was a good soldier, and the town voted him a bounty, as 
in case of volunteers. Two other drafted men, William W. 
Atwood and Richard S. Dorman, paid commutation fees of 
three hundred dollars each, and tlie following business men of 
tlie town individually contributed to the support of the war bv 
furnishing substitutes : Xahum 3*loore, Charles H. Berry. 
George D. Hutchinson and Josiah \\'. \Miitten. 

During the progress of the war many town meetings were 
held to make provisions for filling quotas and appropriations 
for bounties, aid to soldiers' families and other expenses per- 
taining to military service. These meetings were alwavs largelv 
attended and money was freely and enthusiastically appropriated 
in support of the war. Besides various and considerable appro- 
priations for enlistment expenses and aid to families of soldiers, 
the outlay of the town for bounties was as follows : 

To three years' volunteers in 1862, 1,800 

To nine months' volunteers in 1862, 3,333 

To three years' volunteers in 18G3, 8,904 

To drafted men in 18C3, 300 

To volunteers in 1864-5. 17,8-50 



Total. $32,187 

The liberality of the town is shown in the equalization of 
bounties among towns by the State under an act of the Leg- 
islature, approved ]\Jarch 7, 1868, which returned to Buckfield 
the sum of $7,266.66, as its equitable excess paid for bounties, 
viz. : 

53 men, 3 years' service. $5,300.00 

1 man, 2 years' service. 66.66 

33 men, 1 year's service. 1,100.00 

32 men. 9 months' service. 800.00 

In addition to the liberal provisions of the town the people 
were in constant activity in auxiliary work. Frequent meetings 
were held, and many entertainments were given by the ladies 
for the benefit of the sons of the town, who were enduring the 
hardships of army life, and the hearts of many soldier boys, in 
the field and hospital, were cheered and comforted by contribu- 
tions of sacks, blankets and other needed su])plies that went out 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIIZLD 407 

from Ihickfiekl. The following- niemoraiidum of contributions 
is preserved : 

To U. S. Sanitary Commission, $300 

To U. S. Christian Commission, 200 

To Soldiers In iMaine camps, 325 

To Hospitals in Boston, New Vork, etc. 175 

To General Hospitals in Loyal States, 175 

To Other Hospitals and Individuals, 398 



Total, $1573 

The annual statement of the municipal officers Mar. i, 1865, 
showed a public debt of nearly thirty-seven thousand dollars 
for war expenditures. 

On the morning- of April 15, 1865, lhi^: town, in common 
with the whole country, was shocked by news of the assassina- 
tion the night previous of President Lincoln, who had so nobly 
antl heroically led the Xation through its darkest years to the 
('awning' of permanent peace and prosperity. Everv citizen 
mourned as for a friend, who had walked or.r streets and sat at 
our firesides. On his funeral day a large public meeting was held 
in the Baptist church, with impressive services and touching 
remarks by citizens. 

The organization of the Grand Army of the Republic inter- 
ested the veterans of Buckfteld in the establishment of a branch 
in the village, and accordingly Fessenden Post, Xo. 43, named 
in honor of Gen. James D. Fessenden, was organized Jan. 6, 1883, 
with Thomas S. Bridgham, first commander, and the following 
membership : 

Charles B. Bridgham, Gideon Fletcher, 

William Bridgham, Henry D. Irish, 

Thomas S. Bridgham, Levi Gammon, 

Edmund DeCoster, James F. Packard, 

Clinton Ripley, Osman Warren, 

Alphonso F. Warren, Seth B. Dudley, 

William E. W'ood, George R. Coyle, 

Hiram A. Conant, Charles H. Gammon, 

Sylvester E. Murdock, Simeon Briggs, 

Charles H. Prince, Nathaniel Harlow, 

Austin W. Royal, Isaac M. Irish. 

A Bible for use of the Post and a picture of Gen. Fessenden 
were received from his widow in a])preciation of the honor 
bestowed in the adoption of her husband's name. .*>ince its date 
of organization, the Post has held meetings regularlv and annualh' 



408 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

observed Memorial Day witli appropriate public services and 
bestowal of (lowers on the graves of fallen comrades. The town 
has usually granted a small appropriation for this purpose. 

Nearly fifty years have passed since the war, in which more 
than two millions of combatants were actively engaged in the field, 
r^rom this distance it is impossible for the present generation to 
form any real conception of that gigantic struggle ; but its reflec- 
tion, in the minds of those whose memories recall it, is a realistic, 
ineitaceable picture of vast armies, with hurrying squadrons. 
wearying marches and shock of conflict, with clouds of defeat 
and lights of victory and daily bulletins of death and destruction. 
The home scenes of Buckfield were typical of the whole country, 
with its sturdy young n.ien going to the front or returning home, 
sick, emaciated, or wounded, from hospital, prison or field ; and 
often the telegraph flashed the news of l^ittle, with thousands 
slain or wounded. On arrival of the mail, the people would 
eagerly flock to the post office, and, as soon as the ma'l-bag coidd 
be opened, the village daily would be passed out and read to the 
anxious crowd, \Mlliam H. Atwood, James Burroughs and Lem- 
uel Cole being the principal readers. 

During the whole conflict, Buckfield sustained its ancient 
prestige for patriotic duty. iNIbre than one hundred and thirty- 
five of its sons served in various State and National organizations, 
many of them re-enlisting in other bodies after the expiration of 
their first term of service, thus counting twice or more on the 
town's quota. 

Below is given Buckfield's Roll of Honor. In some instances 
the length of service was slightly greater than appears, as fre- 
quently some days or weeks elapsed between tin-ie of enlistment 
and date of muster. 

DANIEL AUSTIN, age 19. Triv-ate. Co. F, lltli Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Nov. 7, 1861. Served three years. After war enlisted, in 1872, in 
Co. B, 2d U. S. Cavalry, serving- five years. With Gen. Crook at 
time of Custer massacre. Re-enlisted, serving' five years in Marine 
Corps on U. S. S. Wyoming, cruising most of the time in the Med- 
iterranean. 

GREENVIt.LE AUSTIN, age 21. Private. Co. G. 2d Mass. Cavalry. 
Mustered in Aug. 24. 1864. Served eleven months. 

CHARLES M. BEADLE, age 30. Private. Co. C. 20th Maine Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29. 1862. Died at Philadelphia. Aug. 6. 1863. of 
wounds received at Gettysburg. 

JOHN T. BERRY, age 26. Private. Co. D. Coast CJuards Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Jan. 6. 1S6.S. Served eight months. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 409 

WILLIAM W. BESSEY, age 23. Private, Co. "J, 18th Mass. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 24, 18(U. 

LEVI P. BICKNELL, age 23. Private, 3d Mas.s. Cavalry. Mustered in 
Oct. 26, 1861. On Ccen. Butler's Body Guard. Second engineer on a 
Mississippi gunboat. Served eleven montlis. Killed in California, 
Jan. 10, 1891, by a caving bank in a mine. 

WILLIAM H. BLAKE, age 36. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 2!), 1862. Died Dec. 25, 1862. 

HENRT N. BRADBURY, age 29. Private. Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

CHARLES B. BRIDGHAM, age 21. Musician, Co. D, 2d Regt., U. S. 
Sharpshooters. Mustered in Nov. 9, 1861. Promoted hospital stew- 
ard. Taken prisoner at Manassas, Aug. 1862. Exchanged and ap- 
pointed assistant .surgeon. 54th Mass. Infantry. Acting surgeon. 
Resigned for disability, July 16, 1864. 

THOMxVS S. BRIDGHAM, age 26. Private, Co. A, 30th Me. Infantry. 
Quota of Poland. Mustered in Dec. 15, 1863. Discharged l^'ebruary, 
1864, for promotion as lieutenant in 54th Mass. Infantry. Served 
one year, eight months. 

WILLIAM H. BRIDGHAM, age 16. Musician, Co. H, 29th Me. Infantry. 
Quota Westbrook. Mustered in Dec. 16, 1863. Discharged for dis- 
ability June 29, 1864. (First enlisted at age of 14, spring of 1861, 
in Buckfield Co., which was disbanded. Re-enlisted twice in 1862, 
when 15 years old — 1st in 20th, 2d in 23d Me. Inf., but muster was 
forbidden by parents.) 

FERNANDO BROWN, age 10. Private, Co. K, 5th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in June 24, 1861. Taken prisoner at Bull Run, July 21, 1861. 
Served one year, six months. Deceased. 

HENRY BROWN, age 19. Private, Co. G, 14th Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Dec. 28, 1861. Taken prisoner at Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 5, 1862. 
Paroled and re-enlisted Sept. 21, 1864, in 5th Me. Battery Mounted 
Artillery. Discharged by order, June 13, 1865. 

JAMES BROWN, age 16. Private, Co. H, 5th Me. Infan.try. Mustered 
in Nov. 19, 1863. Killed May 10, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. 

WILLIAM H. BROWN, age 22. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Re-enlisted 
in Coast Guards Infantry Jan. 6, 1865. Served eight months. 

MOSES BROWN, age 22. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Oct. 13, 1S62. Served over nine months. 

JOHN E. RRYANT. age 25. Captain, Co. C, 8th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 7, 1861. Detached part of 1863, recruiting South Car- 
olina Colored troops. Acting colonel during August of that year. 
Served three years. Died In New York, March, 1900. 

CYRUS P. BRYANT, age 21. Private, Co. F, 33d Mass. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 5, 1862. Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps Aug. 
15, 1863. Served three years. Died in Buckfield, May 2, 1866. 

ASIA BRYANT, age 17. Private, Co. K, 5th Me. Infantry. Mustered in 
June 24, 1861. Taken prisoner at Bull Run, July 21, 1861. Paroled 
and discharged. 

JAMES B. BRYANT, age 22. Corporal, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

AUGUSTUS G. BUCK, age 20. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Died in Buckfield, 
Sept. 25, 1868. 

AUSTIN C. BUCK, age 18. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Must(>red 
in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

KING R. BUCK, age IS. Private, 5th Me. i'.attery Mounted Artillery. 
Mustered in Sept. 21. 1864. Serv^ed ten months. 



410 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

ADDISOX JU'CK, age 22. Private, Co. G, 17th I'. S. Infantry. .Mustered 
in Apr. 15, 1S62. Served three year.=;. 

LLEWKLLYN A. BUCK, aged 21. Private, Co. U. 2d Kegt., L . S. Sharp- 
shooters. Mustered in Nov. I), 1861. Appointed hospital steward. 
Mustered out Aug. 23, 1865. 

Al.BERT H. BURROUGHS, age 111. Corporal, Co. K, 7th Me. infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 21, 1861. Promoted sergeant. Wounded at Anlie- 
tam, Md. Discharged May 8, 1863. 

rJDWIN S. BURROUGHS, age 18. Private Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Re-enlisted 
Sept. 21. 1864, in 5th Me. Battery :Mounted Artillery. Mu.st.red out 
July 6, 1865. 

WIELTAM A. COLE, age 18. Private. Co. C, bih Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 7, 1861. Wounded .June 3, 18(;4. at Cold Harbor. Va. 
Served three years. 

CYRUS W. COLE, age 18. Private, Co. D, Coast Guards liifanlr.v. 
Mustered in Jan. 6, 1865. Served eight months. 

CHARLES H. COX, age 24. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 29, 1S62. Discharged for disability Jan. 4. istio. 

ROSCOP: G. CHASE, age 24. Corporal, Co. Iv. ixth Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Dec. 13. 1861. Discharged fur disability June 14, 1862. 

CHARLES CHASE, age 21. Private, Co. D, 23d Mass. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 4, 1862. Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3. 1864. 

DECATUR S. CHASE, age 4 3. Private, Co. C. 8th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 7, 1861. Discharged for disability Oct. 25, 1862. 

J0SP:PH p. CHANDLER, age 44. Private, Co. C. 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

JAMES M. CHESLEY. age 34. Private, Co. C. 8th Me. Infantry. 
Drafted. Mustered in July 16, 1863. Served two years, six months. 

CHARLES C. CHURCHILL, age 21. Private, Co. I, 16th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 14, 1862. Transferred to Veteran Resei've Corps 
Nov. 15, 1863. 

LORENZO Cl^SHMAN, age 20. Private. 5th Me. Battery Mounted Artil- 
lery. Mustered in Sept. 29, 1864. Served nine months. I "ied in 
Haverhill, Mass., Feb. 15, 1871.' 

JONATH.VN DAMON, 2d, age 34. Private, Co. D, 32d Me. Infantry. 
Transferred to Co. D, 31st Me. Killed before Petersburg. \'a.. Apr. 
2, 1865. 

WILLIAM G. DAVIE, age 24. Private, Co. H, 1st Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in May 3, 1861. Served three months. Re-enlisted, corporal, 
Co. 15, 10th Me. Infantry, Oct. 4, 1861. Served one year, seven 
months. 

JOSEPH E. DAN'IE, age 18. I'rivate, Co. B, 10th Me. Infantry. Mu.s- 
tered in Oct. 4, 1861. Served two years, seven months. Re-enlisted, 
corporal, Co. D, Coast Guards Infantr.v. Jan. 6. 1.S65. Served eight 
months. 

EDMUND DeCOSTER, age 31. Sergeant, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. Discharged Feb. 9, 1863. 

WILLIAM B. DeCOSTER, age 21. Corporal. Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Died at lOdvvard's Ferry. Md.. Jan. 27. 
1863. 

CYRUS DeCOSTER. age 21. Private. Co. E. 32d Me. Infantry. .Mustered 
in Apr. 2, 1864. Transferred to Co. E. 31st Infantry. Discharged 
for disability June 1. 1865. 

NATHAN H. DeCOSTER. age 25. Private. Co. C. 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29. 1862. Discharged July 24, 1863. for promotion 
in Corps d" Afrique. 

E;DWIN G. DOBLE. age 24. Private. 5th Me. Battery Mounted .Vrtillory. 
Mustered in Sept. 29. 1864. Mustered out July 6. 1865. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 411 

CHARLES H. DUNHAM, age 19. Private, Co. G, 17th V. S. Infantry. 
Mustered in Apr. 19, 1862. Wounded at Petersburg-, Va., June, 1861. 
Served three years. Died in Sumner, Me., 1891. 

DANIEL W. FARRAR, age 21. Private, Co. K. 5th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in June 24, 1861. Killed at Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861. 

CHARLES C. I'ARRAR, age 18. Corporal, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. Transferred to Invalid Corps, 1864. 

JAMES M. FARRAR, age 24. Private, Co. K, 13lh Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Dec. 13, 1861. Deserted Feb. 19, 1862. 

JOHN C. FARRAR, age 21. Private, Mass. Unattached. On Gen. But- 
ler's Body Guard. Mustered in Oct. 26, 1861. Discharged for dis- 
ability June 15, 1862, at New Orleans, La. 

GIDEON FLETCHER, age 24. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Oct. 13, 1862. Served over nine inonths. 

ROLAN A. FOSTER, age 20. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

CLINTON FORBES, age 22. Private, Co. B, 10th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Oct. 4, 1861. Died in Washington, Oct. 25, 1862, of wounds 
received at Antietam, Md. 

'HENRY B. FORBES, age 18. Private. Co. H, 2!)th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Jan. 12, 1864. Taken prisoner at Sabine Cross Roads, La., 
Apr. 9, 1864. Discharged for disability May 20, 1865. 

CHARLES H. GAMMON, age 24. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29, 1S62. Discharged Feb. 9, 1863. 

LEVI GAMMON, age 20. Private, Co. B, 10th Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Oct. 4, 1861. Discharged for disability June 1, 1862. Re-enlisted 
as a substitute in Co. F, 16th Me. Infantry, Sept. 7, 1863. Discharged 
Jan. 27, 1864. 

NATHANIEL HARLOW, age 31. Private, Co. G, 12th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Nov. 15, 1861. Promoted corporal. Reenlisted in Co. A, 
Feb. 1. 1864. Wounded at Winchester, Sept. 19. 1864. In hospital 
one year. Served four years, two months. 

FREELAND F. HARLOW, age 23. Private, Co. C. 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Oct. 29, 1862. Promoted corporal. Served over nine 
months. 

KINSMAN HOLMES, age 20. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Discharged for disability F'eb. 2, 1863. 
Re-enlisted in 27th Unassigned Co. last part of the war. Died at 
North Buckfield, March 23, 1874. 

SAMUEL F. HOLMES, age 44. Private, Co. D, Coast Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Jan. 6, 1865. Served eight months. 

ASIA HOWARD, age 29. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

JAMBS HUSSEY, age 57. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

VARANES D. IRISH, age 27. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 29, 1862. Discharged Jan. 13, 1863. Re-enlisted Sept. 
22, 1864, in 5th Battery Mounted Artillery, serving nine months. 

ABEL IRISH, age 24. Corporal, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mustered in 
Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

ISAAC M. IRISH, age 23. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Re-enlisted in 5th 
Battery Mounted Artillery Sept. 29, 1864, serving nine months. 

WILLIAM H. IRISH, age 24. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Died 
in hospital at Philadelphia, Oct. 21, 1862. 

STEPHEN O. IRISH, age 21. Private, 5th Battery Mounted Artil- 
lery. Mustered in Sept. 22, 1864. Served eight months. 



412 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

HENRY D. IRISH, age 26. Sergc^ant. Co. B, 28'th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Oct. 10, 1862. Mu.stoi-ed out Aug. 31, 1863. Served on quota 
of Farming'ton. 

DANVIbLE R. JACK, age 20. Private, Co. J), Coast Guards Infantry. 
Mustered in Jan. 6, 1865. Served eight monthis. 

SIMON L. JOHNSON, age 21. Corporal, Co. K, Sth Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in June 24, 1861. Promoted sergeant 1863. Served two years 
and re-enlisted Dec. 24, 186?!. Wounded and transferred to Co. B, 
1st Me. Infantry, Veteran Volunteers. Discharged for disability 
May 14, 1865. 

SAMUELi T. JOHNSON, age 24. Private, 5th Battery Mounted Artillery. 
Mustered in Sept. 19, 1864. Served nine months. 

AMIAL JONES, age 31. Private, 5th Me. Battery, Mounted Artill.-ry. 
Mustered in Sept. 22, 1864. Discharged by order June 17, 1865. 

ARTHUR B. LATHAM, age 19. I'rivate, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. Promoted corporal 1863. Wounded at 
Wilderness, Va. Promoted sergeant. Served one year, ten months. 

HENRY C. LONG, age 23. Musician, 11th Me. Regimental Band. Mus- 
tered in Oct. 29, 1861. Died in New York, July 7, 1862. 

OZIAS M. LOWE, age 22. Private, 3d Mass. Cavalry. Mustered in 
Nov. 23, 1861. Orderly to Gen. Banks. Died at New Orleans, Aug. 
23, 1863. 

WILLIAM W. MARSTON, age 25. Wagoner, Co. I, 16th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 14, 1862. Died at Buckfield. Aug. 22, 1864. Served 
two years. 

GEORGE D. MARSTON, age 28. Corporal. Co. I, 16th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 14, 1862. Promoted sergeant. Served two years, 
ten months. Taken prisoner at Gettysburg. Reported missing. 
Supposed dead. Grave in National Cemetery marked with his name. 

ARRINGTON MASON, age 19. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Re-enlisted in 
Co. B, 29th Me. Infantry, Jan. 12, 1864, serving one year, seven 
months. 

HENRY H. MAXIM, age 20. Private, Co. G, 12th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Nov. 15, 1861. Promoted corporal 1863. Re-enlisted Keb. 1. 
1864. Wounded at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Discharged Feb. 
25, 1865. Served three years, three months. 

OLBAN A. MAXIM, age 19. Private, Co. G, 12th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Nov. 15, 1861. Promoted corporal 1862. Discharged Jan. 
31. 1863. for disability. 

FRANKLIN MAXIM, age 18. Private.. 5th Battery, Mounted Artillery. 
Mustered in Sept. 21, 1864. Mustered out July 6, 1865. 

AMERICA F. MAYHEW, age 19. Private, 5th Battery, Mounted Artil- 
lery. Mustered in Sept. 29, 1864. Mustered out July 6, 1865. 

ISAAC H. McDonald, age 37. First Lieutenant, Co. C, 8th Me. In- 
fantry. Mustered in Sept. 7, 1861. Resigned. Apr. 25, 1862. Com- 
missioned Captain, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry, Aug. 29, 1862. Resigned 
Dec. 10, 1-862. 

THOMAS MERRILL, age 30. Private, Co. D, ^d Regt.. U. S. Sharp- 
shooters. Mustered in No\. 6, 1861. Transferred to Co. E, 17th 
Me. Infantry, Dec. 24, ]8(;3. Re-enlisted. Served three years, seven 
months. 

MOSES MERRILL, age 38. Corporal. Co. J\ Coast Guard Infantry. 
Mustered in Jan. 6, 1865. Served to .July 31. 1865. 

R. G. MITCHELL, age 25. Private, Co. F, 7th Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Aug. 21, 1861. Promoted corporal. Served one year, four months. 

DECATl R MONK, age 30. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Aug. 29, 1862. Discharged in '64. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 4I3 

CARROLL JMORRILL, ag-e 24. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 29, lSfi2. Died Kov. 2, 1^:62. 

JAMES MURDOCK, age 43. Private, Co. G, 14i;h Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Feb. 25, 1862. Discharged for disability 1S63. Re-enlisted 
April, 1864. in Vet. Infantry. Wounded at Cedar Creek. Va., Oct. 
19, 1864. Lost a leg. 

CHARLES A. MURDOCK, age 18. Private. Co. G, 14th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Dec. 12, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864. Served three 
years, eight months. 

SYLVESTER B. MURDOCK. age o4. Private, Co. C, 2()th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. Served two years, nine months. 

ADDISON G. OSBORN, age 21. Private, Co. C, 8th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 7, 1861. Promoted corporal 1862, and to 1st lieutenant, 
4th South Carolina Vols., 1863. 

JAMES F. PACKARD, age 26. Private, Co. H, 14th Me. Regt. Mus- 
tered in March 22, 186.5. Discharged Aug. 28, 1865. 

CHARLES H. PRINCE, age 25. Captain, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

MADISON O. PROCTOR, age 31. Private, 5th Me. Battery, Mounted 
Artillery. Mustered in Sept. 29, 1864. Discharged May 17, 1865. 

SAMUEL W. PROCTOR, age 18. Private, Co. D, Coast Guards Infantry. 
Served eight months. 

LEWIS RECORD, age 34. Private, Co. K, 13th Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Dec. 13, 1861. Served three years. 

GEORGE B. RECORD, age 23. Private, 5th Me. Battery, Mounted 
Artillery. Mustered in Sept. 21, 1864. Served nine months. 

JULIUS A. RECORD, age 18. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

EDGAR T. RECORD .age 18. Private. Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

ALPHEITS A. RICKER, age 25. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

ELIPHAZ RIPLEY, age 29. Private, Co. I, 17th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. IS, 1862. Died of disease at Washington, Dec. 17, 
1863. Served one year, four months. 

CLINTON RIPLEY, age 27. Private, 5th Me. Battery, Mounted Artillery. 
Mustered in Sept. 22, 1864. Wounded Feb. 12, 1865. Mustered out 
July 6, 1865. Died in Dixfield, Me. 

ALBERT A. ROBERTS, age 29. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29. 1862. Served over nine months. Died in Tur- 
ner, Me., Mar. 12, 1901. 

JAMES A. RUSSELL, age 23. Private, Co. H, 14th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Mar. 22, 1865. Mustered out May 22, 1865. 

ALVARADO RUSSELL, age 18. Private, Co. K, 1st Me. Cavalry. Mus- 
tered in Feb. 24, 1863. Deserted Feb. 20, 1864. 

FRANK J. SHAW, age 20. Private, Co. K, 5th Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in June 24, 1861. Discharged for disability June 14, 1862. Enlisted 
Co. D, Coast Guards Infantry, Jan. 6, 1865, serving eight months. 

BURTON SHAW, age 19. Private, Co. C. 23d Me. Infantry. Mustered 
in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Ehlisted 5th Me. 
Battery, Mounted Artillery, Sept. 23, 1864, serving nine months. 
Died May 9, 1876. 

MILFORD N. SHAW, ago 18. Private, Co. H. 29th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Dec. 29, 1863. Died May 5, 1864. in hosi^ital at Nevv- 
Orleans. 

ALFRED SHAW, age 34. Private, 6th California Infantry. Mustered 
in Sept. 28, 1863. Served two years, one month. 

JAMES T. SKILLINGS. age IS. Private, Co. C. 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Re-enlisted in 
5th Me. Battery. Served over eight months. 



414 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

JAMES G. SPAL'LDIXG, age 26. Private, Co. A. .5th :Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in June 26, 1861. Postmaster of regiment in 1862, and 
of brigade in 1863. Served three years, one month. 

CYRUS C. SPAULDING, age 24. Corporal, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. Served five months. 

CYRIL, P. SWAL-LOW, age 22. Private, Co. T, 7th California Infantry. 
Enlisted Oct. 24, 1864. Served one year, five months. Died in 
Canada, Apr. 3. 1900. 

VrXTOX P\ SWALLOW, age 21. Private, Co. I. 12th Mass. Infantry. 
Mustered in June 26, 1861. Assigned to 2d U. S. Cavalry. Killed 
at Manassas Gap, Va., July 27, 1862. 

GARDNER THOMES, age 18. Private, 5th Me. Battery. Mounted 
Artillery. Mustered in Sept. 22, 1864. Served ten months. 

ORVILLE P. TUCKER, age 27. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. 
^Mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. Served one year. 

LUTHER TURNER, age 18. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. :Mustered 
in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. 

WINSLOW TURNER, age 37. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 29, 1862. Served two years, nine months. 

MOSES F. VERRILL, age 24. Private, Co. C, 20th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Aug. 29, 1862. Served two years, nine months. 

HOLMAN W. WALDRON, age 32. Sergeant, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Sept. 29, 1862. Served over nine months. Re-enlisted 
corporal, Co. E, 32d Me. Infantry, Apr. 2, 1864, serving eight months. 

JAMES A. WARREN, age 20. Private, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Sept. 29. 1862. Served over nine months. 

ALPHONZO F. AVARREN, age 18. Musician, Co. C, 23d Me. Infantry. 
Served over nine months. 

CYPRIAN WHITMAN, ago 43. Private, Co. G. 12th Me. Infantry. 
Mustered in Nov. 15, 1861. Served nine months. Discharged for dis- 
ability. 

MAURICE WOODEURY, age 21. Private, Co. C, 8th Me. Infantry. 
IMustered in Aug. 7, 1861. Re-enlisted and promoted corporal. 
Served four years, five months. 

HORACE M. YOUNG, age 18. Private. Co. B, 2!)th Me. Infantry. Mus- 
tered in Jan. It, 1864. Promoted corporal. Served two years, five 
months. 

ROSCOE G. BUCK, age 26. Musician, 11th Regt. Band. Mustered in 
Oct. 29. 1861. Discharged Au^. 22, 1862. . 

RUFUS A. W. BUNKER, age 19. Private, 5th Me. Battery. Mustered 
Feb. 29. 1864. Discharged July 6, 1865. 

JOHN D. DeCOSTER. age 20. Private, Co. A, 12th Me. Regt. Mustered 
Dec. 1, 1863. Discharged April IS, 1866. 

GREENLEAF FARR.\R. Served in Mass. Regt. 

DAVID K. GREEN, age 19. Private, Co. C, 8th Me. Regt. Mustered 
Sept. 7, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864. Killed in battle near Fair 
Oaks. Va... Oct. 27, 1864. 

WILLIAM R. HASEY', age 27. I rivate, 5th ]Me. Battery. Mustered 
Sept. 23. 1864. Discharged July 6, 1865. 

SAMUEL JOHNSON. Served in Mass. Regt. 

JAMES W. McDONAI..D. age 29. Leader, lllh Regt. Band. Mustered 
Oct. 29, 1861. Discharged Aug. 22, 1862. 

MOSES F. PACKARD, age IS. Private, Co. K, 5th Me. Regt. Mustered 
Nov. 9. 1861. Discharged in 1861. 

BENJAMIN PACKARD. Captain in Ohio Regt. 

ALEXANDER C. RECORD, age 23. Private, Co. C, 12th Me. Regt. 
Mustered Jan. 2, 1864. Discharged Apr. 18, 1866. 

ELLIS RUSSELL. Served in Mass. Regt. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 415 

JERRY Rl'SSELL, age 22. Private, 2d Me. IJattery. Mustered Jan. 4, 

1S64. Discharged Juno 16, 18G5. 
LIXTOX WALDROX, age 27. Served in Mass. Uegt. Died in Buckfleld. 
MILTOX WALDROX, ago 24. Served in Regular Army. Died in Texas. 
JOSEPH H. YOLXG, age 20. Private, 5tli Me. Rattcry. Mustered Sept. 

21, 1864. Discharged July 'J. 1S6.5. 

^lany persons born in liuckfield enlisted from other towns and 
places. Of these whose names we have been able to trace are : 
H. [Nliltemore Jordan, who enlisted from Poland in the gth Me. 
Regt. as a private, and for meritorious service attained the rank 
of Captain in the 4th S. C. Colored Tronps. He died in Alinot 
after the war. Thomas AI. Packard enlisted from Oxford in 
Co. C, 17th ]\Ie. Regt. Ezra F. Churchill was in the 23d Ale. 
Regt. from the same town. Sampson A. Thomas from Turner 
was a corporal in Co. E, i6th Ale. Regt. and a member of the 
color guard at Gettysburg, wh.ere he was taken prisoner. Isaac 
J. ATonk was in the same company from the same town. Alvin 
Monk enlisted from Paris in the 12th Ale. Regt., and Sidney S. 
Alonk was in Co. C, 23d Regt. from Sumner. Florian Jordan 
and \\'illiam F. Jordan from Flartford served in Co. C, 20th Ale. 
Regt. The boyhood days of all these men were passed in the 
vicinity of Streaked Alountain. With the iiumber already men- 
tioned as enlisting on the quota of Uuckfield, there were over 
twenty in all — a most creditable record for that section of the 
town, but not more so than other sections. 

The four substitutes credited on the town's quota were Joseph 
F. Hartling, Joseph R. AIcDonough, Robert Watson and James 
Libby. The\- went into the U. S. Xavy. We do not know what 
became of them. 

A large number of men were obtained outside the town as 
recruits to fill Biickfiekl's quota on different calls after 1862. ^^'e 
have, after much efifort, procured nearly a correct list. 

Robert II. Doughty and Samuel Thorne of Woodstock and 
Orville A. Sessions of Alilton Plantation served in Co. A, 30th 
Ale. Regt. All died in the service. Tn die same regiment were 
Ichabod Goodrich, John Alaloney, Arza B. Webber, Levi H. 
Webber, all of f.ewiston. Gosselyn Alc(iloire, probably an 
assumed name, Baptiste Alarcho, Edward Veland from the same 
city Avere in the 6th Ale. Regiment. AFcGloire was killed in battle. 
John H. Ouimby, Philo Winslow, Benj. F. Peterson, John J. 
Bragdon, Eli Clark, Thoma'? Chick, David Jones and A. f. T>ufkin 



416 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



from the same place or vicinity, served in difi'erent orc^anizations. 
Bragdon died in the service. Clark was wounded in battle and 
discharged before term of service expired. 

Of the last quota of 13 in 1865, nine went into the ]\Iaine 
Coast Guards, two were assigned to the T4th Me. Regt., and one 
to the 27th unassigned company. The other volunteer, we have 
been unable to trace. 

The following are the names of those drafted in July, 1863, 
as they were given in the local papers of the time. Those un- 
marked were exempted for various reasons : 



David Record 
John B. Record 
Stephen O. Irish 
\Vm. Wallace Atwoodf 
Hiram H. Gammon 
Edward G. Cole 
Richard S. Dormant 
John A. Shaw 
John Cressey, Jr. 
Albion A. Maxim 
James F. Packard 
Neliemiah E. Marsion 
Jotham W. Shaw 
Albert Mason 
Calvin SnelU 
Jason Gammon 
Edmund DeCoster 
Laurin A. Bumpus 
Samuel B. Irish 
Ephraim R. BisbeeJ 
Philo Record 
Josiah H. Keen 
Horatio G. Davie 
Edwin Russell 
Edmund F. Bradbury 



Eleazer Snell, Jr. J 
Wm. W. Abbott 
Rufus W. Hines 
Ozias DeCoster, Jr.| 
Jonathan M. Shedd 
James M. Chesley* 
Samuel F. Irish 
Edwin DeCoster 
Josiah Churchill 
Eben I. Russell 
Joshua C. Heald 
Levi Monk 
James H. Hodgrdon 
Geo. B. Record 
Chas. H. Young 
Marquis D. L. Foster 
Lewis M. Chase 
Orrington R. Davielf 
Total 43 

tPaid $300 for exemption. 
INot accounted for. 
*Entered the service. 
HHeld to service. Obtained 
discharge. 



Buckfield had 193 credits at the adjutant general's office at 
Augusta for men it furnished during the war. How these were 
made up may be summarized thus : 

Total enlistments, 
Re-enlistments, 

Recruits from other towns or places. 
Substitutes, 

Drafted (served, paid, discharged or un- 
accounted for ) , 



139 
23 
19 

4 



8 



193 

Of the enlisted men seven were killed or mortally wounded in 
battle and eleven died from disease. Of the recruits from other 
towns one was killed in battle and four died from disease. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFiELD 417 

CHAITER XXIX. 

Annals Continued. 

1851. 

At the annual town meeting, Frederick Foster, S. C. Andrews and H. 
H. Hutcliinson, Jr., were chosen superintending school committee. The 
first was elected to serve one year, Andrews for two years and Hutchin- 
son for three years. — A resolution passed to oppose the location of a new 
county road from Buckfield to South Paris as petitioned for by Amos 
Winslow and others. — The building of a school house in the village dis- 
trict (No. 4) was commenced this year. The sum of $300 was loaned by 
Xatlian Morrill, $100 by Daniel Hutchinson, $100 b\- Capt. Josiah Parris, 
?500 by .\niory H. Allen. $151.20 by Charles Daggett, $550 by Zadoc Long 
and $226.80 by Lydia E. Willis, for which the school agents for i85i-'52 
gave notes. — The town house was moved on to land of William Allen's, 
"he agreeing that it may remain on his land free of expense as long as 
it is occupied as a town house or any other purpose by the town." — No 
elections this year for governor, senators and representatives occurred. 
By a change in the constitution, they held over to 1853. — John Loring, 
Esq., died April ist, aged 80 years, 9 months and 14 days. — A correspond- 
ent of the Oxford Democrat from Buckfield in July stated that there were 
living then in town J7 persons who were seventy years of age and upwards. 
Their names and ages, the last three being Revolutionary soldiers, were 
given as follows: Hannah Tucker, 70; William Bridgham, 70; John De- 
Coster, 70; Andrew Cushman, 71 ; Louisa Holmes, 71 ; Caleb Cushman. -ji; 
Barzilia Latham, jt, ; Sally Morton, 74 ; Mary Reed, 75 ; Polly Cox, 75 ; 
Margaret Spaulding, 77 ; James Lewis, 77 ; Jenette Loring, 77 ; Mary 
Elwell, 77; Joseph Hammond, 79; Lewis Mood}-, 80; Sarah Shaw, 81; 
Susan Hall, 81; Nancy Gilbert, 81; James Morrill, 82; Polly Latham, 70; 
Nathaniel Harlow, 70; Arza Fobes, 70; Nancy Chaffin, 71; Ranah F"oster, 
71; Silvena Fobes, 72; Lydia Hammond, 72,; Dorcas Baile>-, 74; John 
Chaffin, 75; Shuah Bicknell, 76; Ann Tucker, 77; Anna Irish, 77; Han- 
nah Dammon, 77; Mary Rice, 78; Betsy Lewis, 80; Leonard Spaulding, 
81 ; John Darling, 81 ; Betsey Whiting, 81 ; Sarah Brock, 81 ; Thankful 
Jenkins, 82; Sylvanus Irish, 70; Joanna Chase, 70; Noah Hall, 71; Han- 
nah Bridgham, 71; Mary Faunce, 72; Mary Dammon, 72,; Anna Morrill, 
7i; Sarah Philbrick, 70; Bathsheba Long, 75; Sally Bonney, 76; Ansel 
liisbee, 77; Dorcas Taylor, 77; Rebecca Faunce, 77; Isaac Tucker, 78; 
Thomas Long, 80; Keziah Waterman, 81; Elizabeth Irish, 81; Thomas 
Faunce, 81; Benjamin Spaulding, 82; Mehitable Austin, 83; Sarah Ches- 
ley, 84; Jonathan Dammon, 84; Phebe Foster, 84; Bethiah T. Perry, 84; 
Daniel Faunce, 85; Jabez Taylor, 85; Abigail Record, 85; Mariah 
Churchill, 85; James Waterman, 86; Josiah Keen, 86; Dolly Drake, 86; 
l-:benezer Irish, 88; Judith Parsons, 89; Polly W^ebb, 92; Capt. Josiah 
Parris, 91; Rev. Nathaniel Chase, 90; Jonathan Record, loi. 



418 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



Seeing this list Miss Columbia Gardner, then a resident of New Or- 
leans, La., composed the following poem : 



Survivors of another age! 

Bright beacons on life's rug- 
ged strand. 
"Your barque has crossed the 
billowy sea; 
Unharmed by wreck or storm 
ye stand. 
One foot upon the precipice 
That shuts the unknown from 
the known — 
Ye calmly wait the hastening 
hour 
That bids you cross the fatal 
bourne. 

We gaze upon you and we think 
Of all that ye have thought 
and felt; 
And trace with ye again those 
scenes, 
Where memory's hopes have 
fondly dwelt. 
We see the wilderness again 
Supplant our smiling village 
homes. 
And hear the red man's savage 
whoop. 
As thru the forest glades he 
roams. 

We know whose stout right arm 
it was 
That swept those forest wilds 
away — 
That taught the desert waste to 
smile. 
And turned the darkest night 
to day — 
There's many a name upon this 
list 
That we will ever cherish 
dear 
And teach our children's chil- 
dren still 



To bless the daring pioneer. 

We've seen the flower of youth 
cut down. 
The proud, the beautiful, the 
strong. 
Your own companions pass 
away. 
Ye to another time belong. 
We see ye not at feast and hall, 
We hear no more your coun- 
sel sage — 
The loud young century forgets 
The lessons it might learn 
from age. 

The ardent fire of youth is gone 
-Vnd gone is life's meridian 
heat — 
The laggard pulse now slowly 
counts 
Its ebbing ttirob — its meas- 
ured beat. 
The morning star of early life. 
That led ye forth with prom- 
ise, on. 
Has -told its long and brilliant 
course. 
And sunk in evening's deep- 
'ning storm. 

And ye — ye too — ye veteran 
ones, 
Your lengthened course is 
riearly run. 
And ye shall sink as calmly too, 
^Vs sinks the glorious evening 
sun, 
And brighter far ye shall arise, 

A happier journey to pursue. 
And in an endless paradise 

The broken ties of earth re- 
new. 



1852. 
Rev. George Thomes was elected town clerk. — This year the super- 
intending school committee at the annual election made a report to the 
town, which report was accepted. — A convention of delegates from the 
classed towns of Buckfield, Sumner and Woodstock met at Jackson vil- 
lage June 26, to arrange the matter of sending representatives to the leg- 
islature for the decade. Col. James Bonney was chosen chairman, Reuben 
Chandler and Alden Chase, secretaries. The following were the Buck- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 419 

field members : James Bonney, Geo. Thomes, Daniel Chase, James Hussey, 
Thomas Bridgham and Joseph Turner. The following was agreed to : 
Buckfield was to send representatives in i853-'56-'5g and '62 ; Sumner, 
in i854-'57-'6o; Woodstock, in i855-'58 and '61.— Ximenes Philbrick, 
Buckfield, Nathaniel O. Ryerson, Sumner, and Sidney Perham, Woodstock, 
were elected as a committee to call meetings. — It was "voted that town 
committee of the town which sends the Representatives notify the town 
committees of the other two towns who the nominee is." — The democratic 
congressional convention to nominate a candidate for Congress to fill 
the vacanc}- caused by the death of Hon. Charles Andrews was held at 
Buckfield. William K. Kimball was nominated over Lyman Rawson. 
Hon. Virgil D. Parris was chosen delegate to the national dem. convention. 
At the election in June, Kimball had 203 votes, Isaac Reed, Whig, had 100. 
Reed had about 200 more in the whole district and was elected. A large 
minority of the democratic party of the state was dissatisfied with Gov- 
ernor Hubbard on account of his signing of the "Maine Liquor Law," as it 
was called. They bolted and put up another candidate for governor, who 
polled over 20,000 votes in the state. This threw the election into the leg- 
islature, and Crosby, the whig candidate, was elected. The vote in Buck- 
field was as follows: John Hubbard, Reg. Dem., 156; Anson G. Chand- 
ler, Bolt. Dem., 192; William G. Crosby, Whig, 31; Ezekiel Holmes, Free 
Soil, 10. Rep. to legislature, H. H. Hutchinson, Jr., 204; Ephraim At- 
wood, 178; scattering, 2. Sumner vote, Hutchinson, 124; Atwood, 120. 
Woodstock vote, Hutchinson, 67; Atwood, 121; scattering, 5. Atwood 
was elected. — The result of the election in Buckfield for President, as 
recorded by the town clerk, was: "Pierce Ticket," 206; "Scott Ticket," 40; 
"Hale Ticket," 60. — Daniel Hutchinson died April 27th of this year in the 
61 st year of his age. 

1853- 
The vote for governor this year w as as follows : Albert Pillsbury, 
Dem., 216; Anson P. Alorrill, Maine Law Dem., 89; Ezekiel Holmes, Free 
Soil, 62; William G. Crosby, Whig, 22; representative, F. O. J. Smith, 221, 
Capt. Lewis Bisbee, 154. The latter had more votes in the district and 
was elected. — The town authorized a deed to be given Moses Packard of 
land "the town bought of the Dea. Job Packard estate." — In Julj- of this 
year, Capt. Noah Prince bought out the Oxford Doiwcrat. It was run, 
until the republican party was formed, as the organ of the "Morrill Dem- 
ocrats," in the county. Mr. Prince severed his connection with the paper 
in the early part of 1855. — The Buckfield brass band, one evening the last 
of June, gave a musical entertainment and serenade to the citizens of 
Paris Hill. Among the selections given was "The Virgil D. Parris 
Quickstep." The account in the local paper says that there was one re- 
markable musician in the band. "The evening was clear and calm and the 
beautiful tones fell sweetly upon the ear. We learned afterward that Mr. 
McDonald was the author. Both the McDonalds, one of which was the 
leader, are admirable musicians." (James R. McDonald was the leader.) 
The band was served with refreshments at the house of Hon. \'. D. Par- 



420 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

ris and at the Union House, kept by Horace Cummings. — The America 
Farrar hotel was advertised with John Taylor as landlord. Mr. Farrar '. 
himself advertised as proprietor the next year. It is claimed that he 
was the first "drover" in this part of the state who dealt directly with the 
farmers and paid them cash for their stock. — The delegates to the "Mor- 
rill" democratic county convention, held this year at South Paris, were 
Nathan O. Storer, Xoah Prince, America Farrar, R. B. Waite, Amon,- K. 
Allen and James Bicknell. — The Belfast Journal in July, had the fol- 
lowing "squib:" "Admittance to Xoah Prince's new party, $1.50." — In the 
issue of the Oxford Democrat of October 21st, an item stated that the 
headquarters of the artillery company was to be changed from Buckfield 
to Paris Hill. — Mr. Daniel Bailey, formerly of Buckfield, died Aug. 21st, 
in Xew Orleans of yellow fever, aged 37 years. — Col. Albert D. White 
was appointed sheriff of the county by Governor \\ illiam G. Crosby. He 
appointed J. \V. Whitten as one of his deputies. — John D. Long entered 
Harvard College this year at the age of 14. — Rev. Xathaniel Chase, a 
Revolutionary soldier and patriot and one of the pioneer settlers, passed 
to the higher life, April 20, 1853, aged 91. 

1854. 
James Murdock was elected town clerk; R. B. Jennings, town agent; 
A. K. P. Small and Thomas Chase, supt. school committee ; Aratus 
Farrar, collector of taxes. — School districts Xo. 2, 4. 6, 7 and 9 were al- 
lowed to elect their own agents. — The town voted to open the new 
county road from Buckfield to South Paris. — The "Buckfield House,' 
kept by Mr. George Battles, was destroyed by fire Sunda}', May 14th. 
Besides the hotel with two stables connected therewith, nearly all the fur- 
niture and a horse and carriage were burned. Loss $3,000, insured for 
$2,400. Several other buildings were on fire while the hotel and stable 
were burning, but by the exertion of the citizens, they were saved. — The 
vote in Buckfield for governor this year was' as follows : Albion K. Parris, 
Dem., 194; Anson P. Morrill, Maine Law, 179; Isaac Reed, Whig, 11 ; 
Shep. Cary. Old Line Dem., 7. 

1855. 

Carlton Gardner was first chosen one of the selectmen this year. It 
was the beginning of a long town service creditable to himself and profit- 
able to Buckfield. — The selectmen were instructed to open the \\ inslow 
road and the sum of S500 was appropriated for the purpose. The sum 
of $1,000 was raised for schools. — The vote for governor this year was as 
follows: Samuel Wells, Dem., 2^2; Anson P. Morrill. Rep., 170; Isaac 
Reed, \\ hig, 5 ; for representative to the legislature, Washington Heald, 
Dem., had 23^; Thomas Chase, Rep., 170. Woodstock voted by a large 
majority for Chase and he was elected. — Daniel Chase died July Sth, 1855, 
aged 70 years and 9 months. His wife, Abigail, had died March 30th, 
1844, aged 61 years and 9 months. This year Johnathan Record passed 
away in the 105th year of his age. on the 17th of Januar}-. 



HISTORY OF Bl'CKFlKLD 



421 




Jonathan Record at liiiJ 



■1856. 

T. J. Bridgham, Es(|., was elected supt. school committee. — Nathaniel 
G. Bumpus, Erastus K. Cummings and Joseph Turner were set off from 
school district No. 12 to No. 14. Also, Solomon Doble from No. 8 to 
Xo. 14.— \'oted that the town treasurer "call up the collectors for the years 
183 1 -'52-"53 and and '54, and have an immediate settlement."— The sum 
of $1000 was raised for schools.— Carlton Gardner served as deputy sheriff 
and jailor this year and Naphtali Mason, as a deputy sheriflf.— The follow- 



422 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

ing is the jim- list as revised this year: Jesse Turner, William Ham- 
mond, Arad Jordan, Jeremiah P. Packard, Oscar F. Gardner, Elijah Tur- 
ner, Joseph H. Hall, Russell Pratt, Lucius Young, James Hussey, Philip 
Mason, Richard Fobes, Leander Hodgdon, Artemas F. Cole, Edward H. 
Shaw, Benj. Jenkins, Benj. Jordan, Jr., Alexander Cushman, Geo. \V. 
Battles, Daniel Mason, Oreille Bridgham, Sydenham Bridgham, Henry 
P. Cox, Freeman Hollis. Leonard Russell, Daniel Fletcher, Winchester 
Spaulding, Erastus K. Cummings, Daniel Chase, Washington Heald, 
Icabod Allen, H. H. Hutchinson, Jr., and Levi Turner. — These names in- 
dicate that political feeling entered into the revision. Xever before had 
this been the case. It shows the intense political feeling which existed 
at that period. — The vote for governor this year was : Hannibal Hamlin, 
Rep., 221; Samuel Wells, Dem., 206; Geo. F. Patten, Whig, 2. — Sumner 
sent the representative this year. — At the presidential election, the Fre- 
mont electors had 221 and the Buchanan electors, 174 votes. — An act 
was passed by the legislature to set off from Hartford and annex to Buck- 
field the following persons and their estates : Hennan Wood, Addison G. 
Wood, Chandler DeCoster, Chandler DeCoster, Jr., David Kneeland, 
Eleazer Chase, Elbridge Irish and Charles B. Irish. Their fanns were 
situated in the southeast part of the town in what was called the "Gore." 
S4.000 was deducted from Hartford's valuation and that amount was 
added to Buckfield's. — A notable dealth this year was that of Miss Colum- 
bia Gardner, on the i6th of June, at Mt. Vernon, Ala., from pulmonary 
consumption, where she had gone from her home in Xew Orleans, La., 
then at the head of the Young Ladies' Seminar}- in that cit%-, to visit a 
lady friend. She was one of the most talented young ladies in the 
country- and was fast attaining fame as a writer. She was buried where 
she died. The following is taken from a poem written by her mother 
on the event : 

"Upon her lone and distant grave, 

Oft the stranger's eye will rest; 

While Alabama's oaken leaves 

Fall lighth- o'er her breast. 

She sleeps — the daughter of the Xorth, 

Far from her childhood's sphere ; 

Peace to the people of the South, 

Who kindly laid her here." 

Miss Gardner, while a resident of the South, had written the follow- 
ing lines : 

"Thou art my home, Xew England ! 
X'^o other boon I'll crave. 
Save that thy gentlest breezes 
May whisper o'er mj- grave. 
O, lay me where the Pilgrim 
Has laid him down to rest ; 
And let the soil he hallowed 
Be heaped upon my breast." 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 428 

1857- 

Dastine Spaulding was elected town clerk and C. D. Bradbury, supt. 
school committeee. — Albion P. Bonney was elected one of the selectmen. 
It was the beginning of a long and useful public service. — This year the 
vote for governor was: Lot M. Morrill, Rep., 212; Manasseh H. Smith, 
Dem., 197. For register of deeds : Alden Chase, 212 ; Stephen D. Hutch- 
inson, 197. — Alden Chase was elected. Mr. Hutchinson went into trade on 
Paris Hill, where he had resided since his first election as register of deeds. 
He never lost his interest in politics, however, nor ever tired of hear- 
ing them discussed around his store. 

1858. 

Thomas J. Bridgham was elected supervisior of schools. — Ximenes 
Philbrick was elected to take charge of the town poor farm. — School dis- 
trict Xo. II was allowed to choose its own agent. — The town voted in 
Ma\' on the new liquor law passed by the legislature, for prohibition, 
134; for license, o. — Vote for governor, Lot M. Morrill, 203; Manasseh 
H. Smith, 201. Representative to the legislature, Leonard P. Smith, 
Rep., 183; Ximenes Philbrick, Dem., 208. Smith had a majority in the 
district and was elected. 

1859. 

\'aranes DeCoster was selected to take charge of the poor farm. 
X'oah Prince was chosen agent to defend the suit of Capt. Joseph Turner 
against the town. — It was voted to set off all the territory formerly be- 
longing to the town of Hartford, together with its inhabitants, for the 
purpose of forming a school district with a section of Hartford. — The 
town lines were perambulated this year. — Mrs. Alaria Churchill, widow of 
Jabez Churchill, a Revolutionary soldier, died Oct. 24, aged 94 years. She 
was born in Wareham, Mass., Aug. 10, 1765, and was the daughter of 
Elnathan and Sarah Benson. 

i860. 

The report of the supt. school committee was published this year and 
500 copies were authorized for circulation. — Geo. W. Battles was ap- 
pointed census enumerator this year for Buckfield and Hebron. — The 
selectmen were instructed to make a financial statement of the town's 
affairs and have it printed.- — Xoah Prince was authorized to take 
charge of the poor farm. — S. C. Andrews, Ephraim Atwood and 
Hiram Hines were chosen a committee to petition the legislature to pass 
an act for the town to loan its credit to the amount of $15,000 in aid of 
the construction of the Portland & Oxford Central Railroad-. — Voted at a 
special meeting to instruct the town agent to have the suit of the town 
against James Murdock, late town liquor agent, and his bondsmen entered 
"Xeither Party." — The "Lincoln Ticket" at the Presidential election had 
215 votes; "Douglass Ticket," 141; "Breckenridge Ticket," 16. 



-4-24 HISTORY OF BLXKFFELD 

iS6i. 

The Civil War having begun with the bombardment of Fort Sumter 
by the Confederates, President Lincobi called for 75,000 volunteers to put 
down the Rebellion. Buckfield was not behind her sister towns in sending 
men to the front. The names of the men who went to the war are given 
elsewhere. — At the September election, the vote for governor was as fol- 
low s: Israel Washburn. Jr.. Rep., 202; John W. Dana, Peace Dem., 126; 
Charles D. Jameson. War Dem., 102. — Mrs. Jennette, widow of John Lor- 
ing, Esq., died Dec. 25. aged Sj years and 6 months. — Varanes DeCoster 
was chosen chairman of the overseers of the poor, and instructed to take 
charge of the town farm. 



1862. 

John D. Long was elected supt. school committee and Carlton Gardner, 
collector of taxes. — At the adjourned annual meeting, John D. Long was 
chosen moderator. — It was also voted not to release A. G. Cole as bonds- 
man for William Sawyer as collector of taxes for the year 1S59, and to 
release all persons who will take their oath that they have paid their taxes 
in William Sawyer's bills for 1850. — Xoah Prince was instructed to 
take charge of the town farm. — The selectmen denned the limits of the 
two enrolled militia companies. The dividing line between the east and 
w est companies was the count\- road from Sumner by Albion P. Bonney's 
to the \-illage, and the highway from the village bridge to Hebron through 
the Foster and Lothrop neighborhoods. — First company : James H. Ke- 
you. Capt. ; John D. Long, ist Lieu:.; .\nc'rew J. Hall. 2d Lieut.: David 
L. Farrar. 3d Lieut. ; Moses Merrill. 4th Lieut. : Josiah Hutchinson. Ord. 
Sergt. ; ist enrollment. 92; 2d enrollment, 128; entered the serxice, 55. 
Second company: Xahum Moore, Capt.; Wrn. F. Robinson, ist Lieut.; 
Clinton Ripley. 2d Lieut. ; Silas Mitchell, 3d ' Lieut. : X. T. Shaw. 4th 
Lieut.; F. H. Thompson. Ord. Sergt.; ist enrollment, 106; 2d enrollment. 
128; entered the ser\-ice, 40. — It was voted to raise S175 to aid destitute 
soldiers' families in accordance with state law, passed March i8th. 1862. — 
Jesse Turner was appointed to sell liquors for medicinal, mechanical and 
manufacturing purposes. Xoah Prince and Merritt Farrar were his 
bondsmen. — At a special meeting, held in July, S1900 were raised as a 
towTi bounty for 19 volunteers who were required to fill Buckfield's quota, 
— At another meeting, in August, it was voted to pay $20 to each volun- 
teer on being mustered into the service, and S9 a month for ever\- month 
he ser\-ed until discharged. In case the soldier was disabled from per-. 
forming further ser\"ice, or was killed, he and his family were to be paid 
for whole nine months. Capt. Charles H. Prince and others were form- 
ing, at that time, a company to serve nine months in Col. William W irt 
\"irgin's 23d Regt. of Infy. — The vote for governor this year stood thus: 
Abner Cobum, Rep., 183; Bion Bradbur>, Dem., 155: Chas. D. Jameson. 
6. — ^John D. Long removed this year to Boston. Mass. 



HrSTORY OF r>UCKFIP:LD 



425 




^!^:'^■ 



Phebe Buck Foster at 95 



1863. 
Transactions at annual town meeting : Ozias Whitman and S. C. An- 
drews were chosen snpt. school committ;e. — Dastine Spaulding was au- 
thorized to take charge of the town farm, VVm. H. Atwood, A. H. Allen 
and A. D. V\'hite, the committee appointed to investigate the liquor agency, 
reported that $581.68 was due the town. It was voted to accept the re- 
port. — Voted $450 in aid of soldiers' families. — The governor vote this 
year was as follows: Samuel Coney, Rep., 209; Bion Bradbury, Dem., 168. 
— At a meeting in Xovemler, it was voted to pay each volunteer $300 to 
fill the quota of the town. The selectmen were chost^n to take measures 
to fill the town's quota and $J000 were raised and put into their hands 
for the i)urpose. — On the 12th day of Xovember of this year, Phebe Fos- 
ter, widow of Joel Foster, senior, and a daughter of Ahijah Buck, for 
whom the town was named, passed to the other world at the ripe old age 
of 97. She was about 11 years old when her father with hi.s family 
moved into their forest home on the banks of the beautiful Xezinscot, 
April 1st. 1777. She had lived to see what no one else had, the first set- 
tlement, the beginning of the village and their growth to the time of their 
greatest prosperity, and to know that the town, in which so many of the 
Revolutionary Patriots had made their home, sustained to its fullest e.x.tent 
the Government in its cfTorts to preserve the Union. 



426 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

1864. 
At the annual town meeting Thomas Chase and Albion P. Bonney 
were chosen supt. school committee for three years and C. H. Carlton, 
for two years.— Voted to pay $300 to each drafted man "who is mustered 
into the U. S. Service."— Voted that the assessors, when taking the valua- 
tion, be instructed to put every man under oath.— Voted to raise $1,000 in 
aid of the soldiers' families.— Vored that the selectmen furnish assistance 
to those families where State aid is insufficient to make them comforta- 
ble. — A citizens' meeting was held and a committee chosen to go to Lew- 
iston and Augusta for the purpose of obtaining recruits to fill the quota of 
the town.— Voted to pay $400 to each volunteer to fill the quota and 
$25 for each man on recruiting service.— At a town meeting in October, 
it was voted to raise $1400 to reimburse the men who subscribed to raise 
that amount to procure the last seven men needed to fill "the last call of 
the President for 500,000 men."— Voted not to raise $600 to pay R. S. 
Dorman and William W. Atwood for money paid out by them "to clear 
them from the draft of July, 1863."— At a town meeting in December, 
John E. Br\ant was selected to consult with the Governor and Assistant 
Provost Marshal in relation to the last call of President Lincoln for vol- 
unteers. — $5,000 was raised to be placed in the hands of a "competent com- 
mittee to procure volunteers to fill the quota of the town under the last 
call. Thomas Chase, A. D. White and Merritt Farrar were selected. 
$500 was to be paid each volunteer. — The town passed resolutions against 
the discontinuance of the running of trains on the Buckfield railroad. — 
The vote for governor at the September election was as follows ; Samuel 
Coney, Rep., 190; Joseph Howard, Dem., 169. — For Representative to Con- 
gress, Sidney Perham, Rep., 185 ; S. C. Andrews, Dem., 171 ; Samuel 
Thomes, Dem., i. — For representative to the legislature, Thomas W. Bow- 
man, Rep., 190; H. H. Hutchinson, Jr., Dem., 165; scattering, 3. — The 
town clerk has recorded the vote at the presidential election thus : "Rep. 
Ticket, 192; Dem. Ticket, 171." — William Bridgham, M.D., died this year 
at the age of 83. — Col. James Bonney died Feb. i8th, aged 60. — America 
Farrar died Dec. 23d. — The quota of the town in March of this year un- 
der the last call of President Lincoln for volunteers to put down the Re- 
bellion was 22. Under the call in May. the quota was 41. The town had 
four to its credit. — Buckfield had credit at the Adjutant General's office, 
Augusta, with furnishing 193 men during the war. This included men 
serving in other than Maine organizations, and those drafted, furnishing 
substitutes, or paying commutation. The town paid $32,435.45 in bounties. 

1865. 
At a town meeting held in January, $5,000 was raised to pay bounties 
for volunteers to fill the town's quota. This action was taken in antici- 
pation of another call for troops. At a meeting in February, this sum 
was increased to $7,500, the call of the President for troops having been 
made. John E. Bryant, Capt. Chas. H. Prince and Doctor C. D. Bradbury 
were chosen a committee to expend the money in the best manner possible 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



427 



in procuring volunteers. It was voted to pay drafted men under this call, 
if there should be a draft, the sum of $500 each. Thirteen men were 
necessary to fill the quota. The war ended by the surrender of Lee at 
Appomattox, April gth. — Carlton Gardner was elected town clerk. — Appro- 
priations : $7,000 for debt and interest; $1,275 for support of schools; $500 
for support of poor; $600 for roads and bridges; $2,000 to be expended in 
labor on highways. — A. D. White, Hiram Hines and Varanes DeCoster 
were chosen a committee to sell the town farm. — Rev. Frederick Foster, 
formerly pastor of the Baptist church society in Buckfield, died in \\ are, 
N. H., aged about 50. — Airs. Ellen T., wife of Hon. Albion P. Bonney, 
died March 26th, aged 36. — By act of the legislature this year, Stephen 
Spaulding of Sumner, together with his real estate, was set off from that 
town and annexed to Buckfield. — On the 14th day of September occurred 
a family gathering at the old homestead of the late Rev. Nathaniel Chase, 
owned and occupied by his son, Hon. Thomas Chase. Eighty persons con- 
sisting of the children and grandchildren of Elder Chase, with their fami- 
lies, were present. Among other exercises was a foot-race, participated 
in by five of the sons — Nathaniel of Sidney, Job of Livermore, Isaac of 
Peru, and Thomas and William of Buckfield. — Isaac carried off the honors. 
— The town farm was sold at public auction in October. The sale w-as 
made in several lots and brought $4,150. Another farm in another part 
of the town better adapted for the purpose, was purchased for $2,300. 



1866. 
The vote for governor this year stood : Gen. J. L. Chamberlain, Rep., 
204; Eben F. Pillsbury, Dem., 195. — Hon. Thomas Chase, a member of the 
state senate, died in Alarch, from the effects of a tumor in the leg. He 
was a son of Rev. Nathaniel Chase. — Edward L. Parris, Esq., began the 
practice of the law in New York city this year. — Nathaniel Shaw died in 
August, aged 80. — The engine house at the village burned Nov. 2d. Three 
locomotives which were in it at the time it caught fire, weie saved. The 
engine house was never rebuilt. One was built at East Sumner, where 
the supt. of railroad moved his ofiice in Dec. — Jason Farrar was appointed 
station agent here. N. T. Shaw was appointed a deputy sheriff this year. 
— The following persons and firms paid a tax this }car in town of $75 
and upwards : 



w 


. H. Atwood, 


$80.10 


L. E. Keen, 


75.06 


s. 


C. Andrews, 


78.90 


Ephraim Lowe, 


92.04 


c. 


B. Atwood, 


9975 


Lucius Loring, 


105.00 


A. 


H. Allen, 


106.50 


Hubbard Lowell, 


80.76 


E. 


Atwood, 


136.02 


Zadoc Long, 


117.00 


A. 


P. Bonney, 


86.70 


Nahum Moore, 


103.08 


0. 


Bridgham, 


7574 


Silas Mitchell, 


84.00 


C. 


H. Berry, 


87.48 


Horace Morrill, 


78.18 


J. 


Bicknell, 


9546 


L. Mason, 


88.92 


T. 


G. Bicknell, 


78.84 


Natlian Morrill, 


387.00 


A. 


F. Cole, 


119.97 


Noah Prince, 


101.46 



428 



HISTORY OF BLXKFJELD 



T. Chase & Son, 


140.88 


Varanes DeCoster, 


131-28 


J. Fobes, 


75-54 


D. L. Farrar, 


81.12 


J. Fields, 


109.92 


Ira Gardner, 


75-00 


Hiram Hines, 


287.88 


A. K. Hall, 


95-64 


F. Hollis, 


79.20 


J. \\\ Whitten, 


79-08 


R. B. Waite, 


84.84 


V. D. Parris, 


82.50 



William Record, 
G. W. Shaw, 
Dastine Spaulding, 
N. T. Shaw, 
W. F. Spaulding, 
J. H. Skillings,^ 
A. L. Thomas, 
A. Thompson, 
A. G. Wood, 
A. D. White, 
T. Warren, 
F. A. Warren, 



80.58 
82.14 
91.56 

111.78 

174.84 
90.00 

132.00 
79.92 
96.60 

195.18 
96.78 
89.52 



1867. 

Doings at annual town meeting: Jason Farrar was elected town clerk; 
J. C. Irish was chosen supt. school committee. — Voted to form a union 
school district of No. 8 in Bucktield with Xo. i in Hebron. Adelbert S. 
Jordan, Nathan Maxim, Moses Jordan and Rachel Turner were set off 
from No. 2 to the new district. — It was voted to exempt town bonds from 
taxation until maturity, and that the selectmen be instructed to petition 
the legislature to legalize this act of the town. — Timothy Hutchinson was 
93 years old this year, and his wife, Nizaula (Rawson), was 90 jears of 
age. They had moved to Albany in 1819. — On the morning of March 9th, 
the wife of Hiram Hines, Esq., fell down a flight of stairs from a cham- 
ber at Dr. Atwood Crosby's and was injured so badh- that she died in 
about an hour, at the age of 55. — Dr. Crosby, formerly of China, came 
to Buckfield in 1866. He purchased the practice of Dr. Chas. Bridgham. 
— Dastine Spaulding sold his farm and stand in April and moved to Cape 
Elizabeth. — Albion Wilson from Topsham opened a drug store in the 
building formerlv occupied by William Atwood. — The vote for repre- 
sentative to the legislature this year stood as follows : S. C. Andrews, 
Dem., 228; Hiram Hines, Rep., 114; C. D. Bradbury, Rep., 55; L. B. Ham- 
lin, I. 

1868. 

Josiali Hutchinson was elected town clerk; A. C. Whitman was 
chosen supt. school committee for three years and C. D. Bradbury for 
two years. — $3,000 was raised to pay town debts and interest. — At a town 
meeting held in August, to act on the proposition for the town to take 
preferred stock in the Portland and Oxford Central Railroad Co., to the 
amount of $15,000 by issuing bonds, it was voted to pass over the article. 
At another meeting called during the same month, to see if the town 
would issue bonds to the amount of $10,000, it was also voted to pass 
over the article. — It was Sumner's turn to send a representative this year. 
The vote in Buckfield stood as follows : C. D. Bradbury, Dem., 263 ; Chas. 
Y. Tuell, Rep., 149; Isaac Heath, Dem., 10; scattering, i.— The vote in 
town for President was as follows: Grant electors. 183; Seymour electors, 
171. — Phebe C, wife of Nalium Moore, Esq., died Jan. loth, at the age of 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 429 

41- — The Line school district comprising 14 farms in Hartford and 9 in 
Buckfield, had at the winter term of the school, 28 pupils. — Capt. Chas. 
H. Prince was elected to Congress this year from Georgia, where he had 
made his home since the war closed. — Stephen Spaulding died April 8th, 
aged 80. — The Loring house at the village was purchased this year by 
Kimball Prince of New York. — Jotham Shaw^ died June 25th, aged 66. — 
Five houses in the village recall to mind the words of the poet, "Com- 
panions of my father's. We have marked the generations as tliey pass." 
The five houses referred to were the Dr. Wm. Bridgham, the lames 
Jewett, the Dominicus Record, the Capt. Josiah Parris and the John Lor- 
ing stands. — Charles Carroll Loring died Oct. 8th, aged 36. He was the 
unlv son of Lucius ami Sarah Loring. He had a taste for literature and 
liad been a frequent contributor to the Portland Transcript and other 
papers under the signature of "Xezinscot." 

1869. 

Transactions at annual town meeting: A. J. Merrill was elected supt. 
school committee for two years, and A. F. Mason for three years. — M. A. 
Allen was chosen collector of taxes and was to be paid $90 for his ser- 
vices. — Burnham Bros, of Portland were exempted from taxation for a 
term of ten years. — Voted that each school district choose its own agent. 
— ^'oted to raise $1 per head on ever\- inhabitant of the town for school 
money. — Lemuel Cole was instructed to repair the townhouse. — Stephen 
Childs was set off from school district Xo. 7 to Xo. 4. — The selectmen 
were instructed to sell the remainder of the poor farm at public auction 
before haying time. — Josiah W. Whitten was appointed deputy sheriff 
this year, w'hich gave great satisfaction in town and vicinly to the friends 
of temperance. — Nine feet and six inches of snow fell during the winter. 
Forty-nine inches fell in February. — Daniel Austin died January 29th, aged 
68. He had lived all his days upon the same farm and was buried on the 
anniversary of his birthday. — Mrs. Nizaula (Rawson), widow of the late 
Timothy Hutchinson, formerly a citizen of Buckfield, died at Albany, 
Feb. 25, in her 92d year. They had lived together about 70 years. — Tlie 
railroad bridge at the village fell April 27th, as the engine of the down 
train ran on to the first span. The engine tender and the first car, loaded 
with wood, went into the stream. The conductor, Ed. S. Burroughs ; the 
engineer, O. P. Tucker; and a Frenchman, who was acting as fireman, 
went down with the locomotive. They escaped, however, without serious 
injury. — Simon Barrett, Esq., a former citizen of Sumner, where he had 
held all the important town offices and also that of the first postmaster, 
died there May 23d, aged 86. — Elkanah Irish died June 27, aged 77. — Mrs 
Margaret, wife of Elias Taylor, died Aug. 6th, at Hebron, aged 74 years.— 
A farmer's club was organized this year in Buckfield with the following 
officers : Co. A. D. White, Pres. ; Varanes DeCoster, Vice-Pres. ; M. A. 
Allen, Sec— In September, William H. Atwood and Benjamin Spaulding 
began the building of their new store in which they afterwards traded 
for many years. It was built on the site of the old Foster, afterwards 



430 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Bridgham, tavern. — The amount allowed the town of Buckfield under the 
act passed by the legislature, equalizing bounties paid by the towns for 
volunteers in the Civil \\'ar, was $7,266.66. — Ebenezer Snell died Dec. 28, 
aged 63. 

1870. 
Silas Alitchell was elected to take charge of the town farm. — The of- 
fice of treasurer was put up at auction. It was bid off by O. F. Gardner 
for $20, but S. C. Andrews was chosen treasurer. — A. D. White was 
chosen to manage the law cases of the town.— This year the vote for 
representative to the legislature was: S. C. Andrews, Dem., 189; Nalium 
Moore, Rep., 155; scattering, i. Mr. Moore had a majority of the votes 
in the whole district and was elected. The town lines were perambulated 
this year. — Capt. Joseph Turner died May 23, aged 70. — Dr. Zachariah J. 
Gammon, dentist, formerly a resident of Mechanic Falls, died June 19, 
aged 53. — Ira Gardner, Esq., died Sept. 3, aged 75. — The census taken this 
year showed a population of 1495. It was 1705 in i860. 

1871. 

At the annual town meeting Jason Farrar was elected town clerk; 
Nahum Moore, town agent; S. C. Andrews, supt. school committee, "short 
term ;" Alfred Cole, "long term." It was decided to paj- Dr. O. R. Hall 
$32.75 on condition that he withdraw his suit against the town and pay 
his own costs. — The selectmen were instructed to use the money appro- 
priated for the objects only for which they were raised. — Albion P. Bon- 
ney and Whitney' Cummings were chosen as a committee to investigate 
the liquor agency, "as far back as the agency of M. B. Thomes," and re- 
port in two weeks. — The selectmen were directed to close the liquor 
agency, and for the town agent to prosecute all illegal sales of liquor. — 
S. C. Andrews, Dem., had 185 votes for representative to the legislature, 
John J. Perrj-, Rep., had 142. Perry was chosen, he having a majority in 
the district. — At a town meeting held in November, Chas. Forster was ex- 
empted from taxation for a term of 5 years, "on any mills, machinery and 
stock he may put upon the mill' privilege at Shaw's bridge." — Candlemas 
Day, Feb. 2, was warm and cloudy. There was much bare ground and 
both sleighs and wagons were used. During the first part of March, the 
weather was the most pleasant which had been known for many years.— 
Jonah Hall died Feb. 24, aged 80. — Andrew Hall, formerly of East Buck- 
field, died at Peru, March 30. He served awhile in the arm}-, in 1814. — 
Mrs. Dolly Taylor died at East Buckfield, April 25th. She was over 70 
years of age.— Orin Farrar died May 3d, in his 64th year. — J. C. Fuller of 
Hebron opened a store here this year in the building once known as the 
Loring store. — Rev. George Thomes died in April at an advanced age. 
He had resided here since 1840, at which time he came to take charge, as 
pastor, of the Universalist society. He had been postmaster at the vil- 
lage for several years. — A portion of the flag that was taken by Com- 
modore O. H. Perrj' from the Lawrence to the Niagara, during the battle 
of Lake Erie, was in the possession, this year, of Zenas Shaw of East 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 431 

Buckfield. — In October, Charles Forster bought the water privilege of 
E. H. Shaw near "Shaw's bridge" for the purpose of erecting a building 
and putting in machinery to manufacture toothpicks. — Rev. H. Linsley 
was ordained as pastor of the Baptist society Nov. ist. — Rev. Levi Herscy, 
a Freewill Baptist preacher of Richmond, purchased the Frank Bard farm 
and moved into town, the latter part of the year. — There were in the vil- 
lage ihis year 3 physicians, 2 dentists, 6 justices of the peace, i lawver and 
2 ministers. There were three secret society lodges. 

1872. 
Transactions at the annual town meeting : Josiah C. Caldwell was 
elected school committee. — It was voted to exempt property from taxation 
for a period of ten years on any buildings, stock or machinery used for 
manufacturing purposes.— $4,000 was raised to erect a building for munici- 
pal purposes "with but one dissenting vote." — Voted to lease said building 
to any responsible person or persons for manufacturing purposes, for a 
term of ten years, "free of rent, they to keep it in repair, the town to 
keep it insured." — The vote for representative in town this year was: 
Alfred Cole, 219; G. D. Bisbee, 157. Mr. Bisbee had a majority in the 
district and was elected. — For presidential electors, "Grant Ticket," 130; 
Greely Ticket," 180. — The Baptist church and village schoolhouse were 
burned in the latter part of the year. Loss over $5,000. Fire caught in 
the church, origin unknown. The .Baptist Society occupied the Univer- 
salist church until a new church was built the next year. — C. M. Dacey of 
Auburn started a shoe factory here this year. He employed from 20 to 30 
persons of both sexes. — Hon. Noah Prince died Feb. 14, aged 74. He liad 
been a worthy member of the Baptist church for many years prior to his 
death. — The train on the railroad was 19 days in getting from Canton 
to Mechanic Falls, in February. — The hay crop the year before had been 
short and the price of hay during the winter went up to between $20 and 
$30 per ton. The quantity of corn and meal fed to stock had never been 
so large before. — Nahum Moore, R. C. Jewett, S. C. Andrews and G. D. 
Bisbee were chosen a commmittee at a citizens' meeting in April to nego- 
tiate with parties at Stoneham, Mass., for the establishment of a shoe 
factory at the village. — At a town meeting held on the 20th of April, a 
vote passed to exempt from taxation any property used for manufac- 
turing purposes, for a term of ten years, to the amount of $50,000. M. 
A. Hanson & Co. was secured and a factory was built which employed 
from 30 to 50 operatives. 

1873. 
At the annual town meeting O. F. Gardner was elected town clerk ; S. 
C. Andrews, supt. school committee ; N. T. Shaw, collector of taxes. — 
Voted that the selectmen meet the last Saturday of every month to draw 
town orders. — The following was the vote in town for county attorney: 
George D. Bisbee, Rep., 119; Samuel F. Gibson, Dem., 125; Henry Upton, 
Lib. Rep., 2-]. Mr. Bisbee had a majority in the whole county. — A new 



432 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Baptist church and schoolhouse were built this year. — From a record of 
the weather, kept at East Buckfield during the winter of iS/J-'/j, it ap- 
pears that 39 snow storms had occurred, with a total fall of snow of 12 
ft. and 2 in. — On May 31st, Timothy Record died at the age of 88. the old- 
est man in town at that time. He was a son of Jonathan Record, the old 
Revolutionary soldier. — Hon. Zadoc Long died at the residence of his 
dau., Mrs. Persis S. White, in Mass., Feb. 3, aged 72 years. His 
remains w"ere interred in the cemetery above the village. Funeral services 
were held in Buckfield, Feb. 7. Mr. Long had begun active life as a clerk 
in the store of Stephen Phelps. 

18/4- 

Alfred Cole was elected supt. school committee for 3 years and J. C. 
Irish for 2 years. — At the September election, the vote for sheriff stood : 
Josiah \V. Whitten, Rep., 153; Seth T. Holbrook, Dem., 105; Albert D. 
White, Lib. Rep., 4. — Alfred Cole was drawn as a traverse juror for the 
S. J. Court. — D. C. Chase established a tri-weekly stage line this year be- 
tween Buckfield and Auburn. — Hon. Virgil D. Parris died June i6th, at 
his home on Paris Hill from the effects of a paralytic shock about two 
j-ears before. He was 67 years of age at the time of his death. 

In 1851, T] persons in Buckfield were over 70 years old. These had all 
passed away before this year. — On Sept. 24, Martin Drake fell out of his 
chair and died at the age of 82. He had been in his usual health. He was 
living with his daughter, Mrs. John Damon, on the farm where he was 
born. "He never had his peer in strength and activity." — Mrs. Flannah 
Chase, daughter of Dr. Wm. Bridgham, and widow of Isaac Chase of 
Turner, died at Buckfield, Oct. 28, aged about 70. — James Murdock died 
on the 15th of January of this year, aged 56. He was a native of Hebron 
and a tailor b}^ trade. He was for many years in the employ of Atwood, 
Spaulding & Co. For several years he was town clerk. Mr. Murdock 
was a soldier in the Civil War and lost a leg in Sheridan's campaign 
against Early in the Shenandoah Valley. — The number of resident tax- 
payers this year were 380. Those who paid $50 or more numbered 143. 
Seventy-three had paid $76 or more, 35 $100, and 5 paid $200 or more. — 
The mortality for the year was 19, — 7 males and 12 females — against 26 
the previous year; 8 were in the village. — Alfred Cole, G. D. Bisbee and 
Dr. J. C. Irish were chosen at a school district meeting in the village to 
take measures to establish a permanent high school. — John D. Long was 
elected this year from Hingham, Mass., which he had made his permanent 
home, as a representative to the General Court, by the Republicans. This 
was his real start in political life. He was three times re-elected. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 48:3 

CHA['TER XXX. 

Secret Societies. 

freemasonry. 

Freemasonry existed in lluckfield among- its earliest settlers, 
when there was no lodge nearer than Portland. I7nited Lodge, 
row at Brunswick, chartered at Topsham in 1801, later became 
a Masonic home to which those worthy ])i(jneers of this town fre- 
quently journeyed in company. A few years later a more con- 
venient place of meeting was found in Oxford Lodge, chartered 
at Paris Hill in 1807. This lodge was composed of Masons from 
Uuckfield, Paris and Xorway, and in its organization the follow- 
ing residents of Buckfield appear as charter members : 

Henry Farwell, prominent as a lawyer, Abijah Buck, the first 
permanent settler of the town, Oren Record, a large land owner, 
William Bridgham, Jr., the most eminent physician in this vicinity, 
and Larned Swallow and Barnabas Perr)', both blacksmiths and 
leading men of afifairs. 

These men appear to have been prominent in the early history 
of this lodge, for at its first meeting, lield in Hubbard's Hall, 
Henry Farwell was elected \\'. M., Larned Swallow, S. D., and 
Barnabas Perry. Tyler. Farwell was continued master two years. 

The subsequent records of the lodge show that the following 
citizens of Buckfield were made masons at Paris Hill : 

IMoses Buck in 1815, James Bowker in 1816, Nathaniel Harlow 
in 18 1 7, and John Bicknell in 1824, and the following early resi- 
dents appear of record as visiting brethren: Richard Waldron, 
Thomas Joselyn and Stephen Phelps. Several other old-time 
residents of the town were known to be masons, among whom 
were Abraham Waldron, X'^athan Atwood, Amos Winslow, 
Stephen Spaulding, and Rev. George Thomes. 

But the lodge associations of these men, at length, were rudely 
interrupted by the blighting storm of anti-masonry, known as 
the ^Morgan excitement, which cast a gloom over the fraternity 
of the whole countr)- and closed the doors of Oxford T_^:)dge in 
1830 for a period of twenty-three years, during which time the 
brethren could only meet in obscure conference. One of their 
munher, Nathaniel Harlow, was subjected to bitter persecut'on 
and church discipline for his oiTense of being a mason, reference 



434 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 



to which is more fully made in the church history in this volume. 

Masonry continued to flourish in Buckfitld, in a quiet way. 
with a few worthy representatives, till the formation of Xezinscot 
Lodge at Turner in i860, which afforded a more convenient meet- 
ing place than had hitherto been enjoyed, and a revival of masonic 
interest followed in this community. 

In 1863 about twenty masons were residing" in Buckfield. most 
of whom had been made in Xezinscot Lodge, and, as their num- 
bers increased they advanced the ])roposition for a lodge of their 
own; but this met with strong opposition from the Turner 
brethren, and for two years the proposal was a subject of consid- 
erable controversy and vexation in the lodge. The matter was 
twice brought before the Grand Lodge and sharply contested, but 
after a protracted hearing a dispensation was granted in May. 
1868, under which the first regular meeting was held June ist. 
of that vear, with the following officers : Thomas W. Bowman. 
W. M., Holman W. \\'aldron, S. \V., and James H. Keyou, J. ^^^ 
During the period of the dispensation ten master masons were 
made, the first being Xahum Moore. After this prosperous year 
the organization received its charter as Evening Star Lodge, Xo. 
147. under date of iNIay 5, 1869. with the following names of 
charter members : 



Thomas W. Bowman 
George D. Bisbee 
Josiah W. Whitten 
Holman \V. Waldron 
Sullivan C. Andrews 
William F. Bard 
Newell M. Varney 
Charles B. Atwood 
Albion J. Buck 
Xahum Moore 
Silas Shaw 
William Chase 



Asa Atwood 
James H. DeCoster 
James H. Keyou 
Benjamin F. Cary 
William P. Bridgrham 
Jason Farrar 
Benjamin Spaulding 
William A. Gerrish 
Simon L. Johnson 
William F. Robinson 
Henry C. Rioker 
Lorenzo Cushman 



At a special meeting on the afternoon of July 13, 1869, the 
first election of officers under the charter was held, and the lodge 
was dulv constituted by Past ]\Laster M. T. Ludden of Xezinscot 
Lodge, agreeably to a commission from Grand ^Master Lynde. 
The occasion is recalled as one of great interest and enjoyment. 

Before the dispensation had been granted the brethren, in 
anticipation of a lodge, had leased and finished a hall over the 
village drug store, then conducted by iMr. A. D. Wilson, and the 
lodge continued to occupy this room till 1895. when it moved to 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



485 



more convenient and commodious quarters on the second floor of 
the brick building, known as the Allen & Thomes store, where a 
new hall had been finished and newly furnished. 

The largest masonic gathering ever in Buckfield was in attend- 
ance on the funeral of Dr. John F. DeCoster, June 5, 1898. 

The first three officers of the lodge have been as follows : 



w. ^r. 

18«8 Thomas W. Cowman 

1SG9 Thomas W. Bonman 

ISTO Holman W. Waldion 

1871 Sullivan C. Andrews 

1872 Jason Farrar 

1873 Holman W. Waldron 

1874 Josiah W. Whitten 

1875 Henry C. Ricker 

1876 Georg-e D. Bisbee 

1877 Charles R. Whitten 

1878 Charles R. Whitten 

1879 Henry C. Ricker 

1880 Jason Farrar 

1881 Josiah W. Whitten 

1882 J. Ward Maxim 

1883 Richard S. Dorman 

1884 Henry C. Ricker 
18S5 Henry C. Ricker 

1886 Henry C. Ricker 

1887 Lewis B. Spaulding 

1888 Lewis B. Spaulding 

1889 Josiah W. W' hitten 

1890 Josiah W. Whitten 
1691 Lewis B. Spaulding 

1892 Josiah W. Whitten 

1893 Fred L. Chesley 

1894 Olpha L. Varney 

1895 Olpha L. Varney 

1896 Henry C. Ricker 

1897 Henry C. Ricker 

1898 AVashing-ton Heald 

1899 Augustus F. Cloutier 

1900 John E. Moore 

1901 Arthur E. Cole 

1902 Frederick R. Dyer 

1903 Horace A. Murch 



S. W. 
Holman W. Waldron 
Holman AV. AValdron 
Sullivan C. Andrews 
Jason Farrar 
Josiah W. Whitten 
Henry C. Ricker 
Henry C. Ricker 
James H. DeCoster 
James H. DeCoster 
.\ug-ustus C. Tubbs 
Preston S. Lowe 
Jennet A. Rawson 
Jennet A. Rawson 
J. Ward Maxim 
Aug;ustus C. Tubbs 
Rinaldo Monk 
Isaac W. Shaw 
Isaac W. Shaw 
Josiah W. Whitten 
Josiah W. Whitten 
Josiah W. Whitten 
Charles A. Marshall 
Jennet A. Rawson 
Fred L. Chesley 
Fred L. Chesley 
Olpha L. "Varney 
Aug-ustus F. Cloutier 
Augustus F. Cloutier 
Washington Heald 
Washington 'Heald 
Hoiace A. Murch 
Horace A. Murch 
Arthur E. Cole 
Frederick R. Dyer 
Wilson H. Conant 
Harry M. Heald 



J. W. 

James H. Keyou 
James H. Keyou 
George D. Bisbee 
Henry C. Ricker 
Henry C. Ricker 
Silas Shaw 
James H. DeCoster 
Augustus C. Tubbs 
Augustus C. Tubbs 
Benjainin F. Cary 
Appleton F. Mason 
Richard S. Dorman 
Richard S. Dorman 
Aug-ustus C. Tubbs 
Rinaldo Monk 
Frank P. Withington 
Herbert F. Irish 
Herbert F. Irish 
Ezra Marshall 
Charles A. Marshall 
Charles A. Marshall 
Charles H. Dunham 
Harry L. Bonney 
Olpha L. Varney 
Olpha L. Varney 
Augustus F. Cloutier 
Fred E. Heald 
Willie E. Bowker 
Charles F. Berry 
Charles F. Berry 
Arthur E. Cole 
Arthur E. Cole 
Frederick R. Dyer 
Wilson H. Conant 
Gilbert B. Spaulding- 
William C. Allen 



The Treasurers have been Sullivan C. Andrews. James H. 
DeCoster, Nahum Moore, George D. BisbeC; Josiah W. Whitten, 
Richard S. Dorman, Isaac W. Shaw, Benjamin Spaulding, 
Thomas S. Bridgham and Henry H. Nulty. The Secretaries 
have been James H. DeCoster, three years ; Salathiel Tilton, two 
years ; Cyrus C. Spaulding, one year ; Charles R. Whitten, five 
years ; Jason Farrar, one year, and .Mfred Cole, twenty-four years. 



436 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

During- its organization of thirty-six years Evening Star 
Lodge has been a well established institution, extending its 
kindly aid to its members in need and exercising a broad influ- 
ence for good in the communily. It has had no rapid growth, 
but has maintained harmonious associations and quietly advanced 
in stability. Its total membership has been one hundred and 
sixty-six from which seventy-seven have been lost by death, dimit 
and other causes. 



JUNIOR ORDER OF UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 

Eagle Council, No. 40, of this order was organized in the 
village, Nov. 16, 1899, with the following charter members: 

Preston C. Heald Wniiam A. Mitchell 

Wilson H. Conant Carl M. Heald 

Ernest M. Atwood Frank Washburn 

William C. Bisbee Arlington Damon 

John D. Gerrish Harry M. Heald 

Stephen J. Spauldins Charles B. Damon 

Honorary members: Joseph B. D^mon and James F. Packard. 
The first ofRcers were: 

Ernest M. Atwood, Councilor. 
Frank Washburn Vice Councilor. 
Harry M. Heald, Recording- St^cretary. 
James P. Packard, Treasurer. 

The election of officers occurs' semi-annually in January and 
July. This order occupies the old Masonic Hall over J. A. 
Rawson's drug store. It has won a good degree of prosperity. 



WOMAN S SOCIETIE.S. 

The women of Buckfield have always been active in the pro- 
motion of the social interests of the community. From the 
earliest days of the town, all its progressive and reformatory 
movements have been largely indebted to their efforts for suc- 
cess and permanence, especially in temperance and church affairs. 
Formerly their labors were mostly auxiliary to established 
organizations, but of late years, while continuing their co-opera- 
tive work, they have also kept pace with the tendency of the 
times through organizations for independent action in the fields 
of mutual improvement and public reform. 

The Buckfield Literary Club was organized April i, 1895, 
and at first was limited to twenty-five members ; but this restric- 
tion was subsequently removed, and the club is now open to all. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIFXD 437 

The club entered upon a course of reading and study, holding 
fortnightly meetings for discussion and presentation of original 
essays and papers on literary topics. It was a success from the 
start and now numbers thirty-eight members. 

The Xezinscot History Club was organized March g, i(S97, 
with thirteen members. This club was in no sense a rival of 
the former one, but the outgrowth of increasing interest in 
literary matters, which sought membership beyond the limit 
of the earlier organization. As indicated b}- its name the scope 
of its work is largely on historic lines. It has been steadily 
prosperous and acquired thirty-two members. 

These two clubs have worked in harmuny. with elevating 
results, and taken a permanent place in the community in which 
thev have exercised broad educational intluence. 

A branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was 
organized here Aug. 25, 1899, and has received large patronage. 
It has held several large and interesting public meetings and 
has been active in works of charity and reform. 



PATRONS OF HUSr..\NDRY. 

[Mountain Grange, No. 164, was organized under a dispensa- 
tion dated May 15, 1875, '^'''^'1 its charter is dated July 9th of 
that year. It was organized in West Buckfield, with Alvin S. 
Bessey as its first master. Its original membership was drawn 
largely from that part of the town, but it acquired several mem- 
bers from the vicinity of the village and a few from Paris. 
iMeetings were held several years in the schoolhouses and farm- 
houses and later at the village in the hall of Hotel Long The 
members acted in co-operation, for a time, in the purchase and 
distribution of household supjdies, l)ut this arrangement con- 
tinued but a short time. Although the org;mization had no rapid 
growth, yet for several years it had well attended and interesting 
meetings, and its field of advancement was promising; but 
unfortunately controversies crept into the ranks, which disturbed 
its harmonious associations until its meetings were discontinued, 
and its functions as a society wholly ceased. With no live 
organization of their own in town, many IJuckfield farmers 
united with granges in other towns, and no further activity in 
the interest of the home grange was manifested until the summer 



438 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

of 1 901, when a revival of interest occurred, which resulted in 
its organization June 17, 1901, in Grand Army Hall under the 
old name and charter, with Henry Parsons. ^Master. Soon after 
Xezinscot Hall was leased in which the meetings have since been 
held. The organization at once enlisted the interest of farmers 
and soon grew into favor with the general public, acquiring in 
less than two years' time a membership of more than one 
hundred. A\'ith its largely attended meetings, its public lectures 
and entertainments this grange has acquired an important place 
in the social interests of the communitv. 



ODD FELLOWS. 

This fraternal order, as an organization in Buckfield. is of 
comparatively recent date. Previous to 18S3 its only representa- 
tives here were a few members of distant lodges, having no 
lodge privileges of convenient access. Early in that year five 
citizens of the village were initiated into the order in Abou Ben 
Adhem Lodge at Auburn. These five brothers, with three 
resident representatives of other distant lodges, united in a 
petition to the Grand Lodge for an organization of their own, 
and a charter, under date of Aug. 14, 1883. designating the 
organization as Xezinscot Lodge, X'o. 104. which was readily 
granted, naming the following charter members : 

Fremont L. Irish Thomas S. Bridgham 

Charles C. Withington GranviUe A. Harlow 

Jennet A. Rawson Converse S. Childs 

Albion P. Bonney Zenas C. Holmes 

Previous to the date of the charter a dispensation was granted 
under authority of which the lodge was instituted ^lay 11, 1883, 
by Grand ^Master Silas \V. Cook, with the following officers : 
Albion P. Bonney, Xoble Grand, Fremont L Irish, \'ice-Grand, 
and Thomas S. Bridgham, Secretary. The lodge was organized 
in ^lasonic Hall, which was occupied for meetings till suitable 
rooms were provided in the hall of the Long house, where meet- 
ings were held about seven years. Though starting with few 
members and with slight resources, the new lodge soon grew 
into favor and prosperity. ^Meetings were held every Saturday 
evening with increasing work and interest, and a good member- 
ship was soon acquired from Buckfield and neighboring towns. 



HISTORY OF r.LCKl-li-:LU 489 

As the lodge continued to increase in numbers and financial 
strength, a more commodious place of meetinq- appeared neces- 
sary, and after considerable investigation and debate, it was 
decided to erect a new building. The site on which the Hanson 
shoe factory formerly stood was secured, plans were accepted 
for a two-story building, thirty b_\- seventy- two feet, which was 
erected in the reason of i8f^, at a cost of about twenty-five 
hundred dollars for foundation, building and furnishings. This 
building was named Xezinscot Hall. The upper floor is used 
for lodge purposes and the lower part as a public hall, in which 
large public meetnigs, concerts and social entertainments are 
usually held. It was used as a Town Krdl five years, dating 
from March, i8()i. 

The first lodge meeting in the new liall was held Xov. 2y, 
1890, and the dedicatory exercises occurred Fel). 12, i8gi, w;th 
the presence of the Grand Master and a large attendance. Since 
that time many improvements have been made and several 
acquisitions added to the property, including stable rooms, 
furniture and a degree staft outfit, jmrchased in 1809, at a cost 
of four hundred dollars. 

From its small beginnings to the present time the lodge has 
i)een generally j)rosperous. It has lost eight members by death, 
and, in 1885, ten members witlulrew to institute a lodge at Tur- 
ner. Membership, one hundred and twenty-six. The lodge has 
acquired valuable and finely equipi)ed lodge property, is free 
from debt, and has funds in the treasury. Its associative interests 
have l)een broad, including several installations and (ither meet- 
ings in its public functions. Its calls for fraternal aid have been 
frequent, which have always been met with promptness and 
liberality. 

Previous to 1893 the election of officers occurred every six 
months, but at that date the official term was extended to one 
year, with annual nieetings regulated to the last Saturday in 
December and installations to the first .Saturday in January. 
The officers of the lodge have been as follows: 

N. G. : Albion P. Bonney, Fremont L. Irish. Zenrs C. 
Holmes, Homer X. Chase, Thomas .S. I>ridgham, Jerome 1>. 
Irish. E. Herbert Cole. Walter 11. Purki<. Converse S. Childs. 
Winslow H. Allen, John F. DeCoster, l-'red il. .\t\vo(Ml, Arilru" 
E. Cole, Daniel f. Kus<ell, Charles C. W'ithington. Cyrus .M . 



440 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Irish, Rozalvo Crockett. Horace A. Irish, Henry A. Bicknell, 
Alfred S. Holland, George A. Holmes, Eugene L. Gardner, 
Alfred T. Cole, Lewis C. Mason, Benjamin E. Gerrish, Roscoe 
G. Stephens, Bethuel Gary, Edwin ^Maxini, Ezra Keene and 
Adelbert Parsons. 

Secretaries : Thomas S. Bridgham, Fred A. Robinson, James 
AI. Allen, Oscar H. Hersey, Winslow H. Allen, Charles C. 
Vv^ithington, Albion P. Bonney, Ered H. At wood, Arthur E. 
Cole and James E. Warren. 

Treasurers : Granville A. Harlow, Converse S. Childs, Wilson 
Shaw, George D. Bisbee, Timothy H. Lunt, Cyrus M. Irish, 
John F. DeCoster, Daniel J. Russell, Albion P. Bonney, W. H. 
Purkis, Alphonso F. Warren, Charles T. Bowen. Benjamin 
Spaulding, Jr., C. S. Childs and Alphonso F. Warren. 

DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH 

Good Faith Rebekah Lodge, No. 40, was instituted Jan. 6, 
1892, with regular meetings assigned to the second and fourth 
Tuesdays of each month. It has been a popular and successful 
institution, and a valuable adjunct to Nezinscot Lodge. 

PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

The Zadoc Long Free Library was a gift of love to Buckfield 
from her most distinguished son, John Davis Long, and a fitting 
memorial to his father and mother, Zadoc Long and Julia 
Temple Davis. Its history rellects a happy unity of public senti- 
ment with the kindly motives of its donor and is of deep and 
lasting interest to tlie town's people, who had long been desirous, 
though hardly expectant, of such an institut'on. 

For several years Mr. Long had cherished thoughts of pro- 
viding a Public Library for the people of his native town. He 
is a man of strong local attachments and love for old friends 
and associations, and, dur'ng his years as Secretary of the Xavy, 
his annual sojourns here at his midsummer home, with its charm- 
ing prospects of stately hills and green valleys, were sweetened 
with the charming quietude of country life auvl the haunt'ng 
memcories of boyhood days, lender the inspiration of these 
associations his lirst thought was to utilize the mechanics shop 
of Gilbert Tilton, formerly the old schoolhouse on Loring's Hill, 




X3 

0-, 



[ITSTORY OF BL'CKFIFLD 443 

in which he took his first echicational stops as a barefooted boy. 
His plan was to move this old buildino- to a suitable lot and 
transform it into a library, pieserving-. as far as i)ossible, its 
original features, but this project was found to be impracticable, 
and plans for a new building by Architect John Calvin Stevens 
of Portland were adopted. A tlesirable building Icjt was given 
by Airs. Josephine Thomes, and the town voted an appropriation 
of five hundred dollars for the foundation, which was laid in the 
fall of lOOO by A. W. Libby, and in the spring following work 
was commenced on the building, which was completed in mid- 
summer and dedicated at Union (Jhapel on Buckfield's (31d Home 
\\'eek day, Aug. 17, 1901. The occasion was largely attended by 
citizens and home-comers, and was one of rare social enjoyment 
and abiding interest. The library was presented to the town 
by Secretary Long through a deed of trust, naming the follijw- 
ing trustees : 

Alfred Cole. Charles H. Prince, Thomas S. Bridgham, Penja- 
min .Spaulding and Ardelia H. Prince. 

As measured with millionaire libraries this building is neither 
spacious nor expensive, but it is of ample dimensions for this 
comnnmity. It is characterized with painstaking neatness and 
architectural simplicity in accord with the donor's tastes. It is 
a one-story wood building, 40x25 feet, with porch, the whole 
resting on a massive foundation of native granite and under- 
pinning of rubble stones, selected from the fields and streams. 
The building occupies an ideal site for a village library. It 
stands on an elevated, terraced green, fronting the village scjuare. 
and is shaded with beautiful elms, a guardian tree, near the 
porch standing on cither side of the entrance walk. This plot 
of ground is known as the old Parris lot and holds a historic 
place in the associations of the town. 

( )n it was erected one of the first houses in lUickfield. in 
which our earliest trader, Alark Andrews, kei)t a store, suppl\- 
ing the early settlers with corn and other necessities. Here lived 
and died Gapt. Josiah Parris of Revolutionary fame, and here 
was born Hon. \'irgil D. Parris, long prominently associated 
with local and public affairs. The older residents of the town 
often recall the old house, witli its primrose enclosure, as it stood 
for many years in desertion and decay, with an old weather- 
worn g.iideboard on its walls dind\- ])ointiug the way ti) Augusta. 



444 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The interior of the library, with its soft, harmonizing tints, 
its pictures and tablets, its open fireplace and brig-ht, cheery 
outlook, is pleasing in its neat simplicity and homelike atmos- 
phere, and is admirably arranged for convenience and cosiness. 
The furniture of the library was provided by Mr. Long, as were 
also its liberal suppl\- of books, with his children, Margaret, 
Helen and Peirce, and his nephews, Joseph Xelson White, Zadoc 
Long White, Charles Davis White, Stephen Long Bartlett and 
Charles Strout Long, as associate donors. The cost of the 
library above the foundation, with its books and furniture, was 
five thousand dollars, and the value of its lot, foundation and 
other accessories would increase the amount to more than six 
thousand dollars. This noble tribute of the heart was bestowed 
upon the people of the town as a free gift without any exacting 
pledges. 

Other donors, whose gifts have been honored with com- 
rneniorative tablets, are as follows : 

Mrs. Josephine Thomes, the lot of land on which the build- 
ing stands. 

Airs. John Calvin Stevens, the pictures in the reading room 
in memorial of her parents, Hov/ard Douglass Waldron and 
Caroline Howard Baker. 

The sons of Thomas Chase, a fine Magee heating apparatus. 

Other gifts have been a full supply of library lamps from 
the Buckfield Ladies' Dramatic Club, fi.replace equipments from 
William C. Spaulding, reference bookcase from the Nezinscot 
History Club, many valuable books from Airs. Stephen L. 
Bartlett and many other books and useful articles from various 
sources. A fine oil portrait of Air. Long has also been added to 
the reading room, filling a wall space specially reserved for it. 
The library is now well supplied with all needed useful and 
ornamental appurtenances, and contains about four thousand 
volumes of well-selected books, in excellent editions, and well 
balanced in the various departments of literature. 

The library was opened for the distribution of books Sept. 
7, 1901, with Aliss Lizzie L. Allen as librarian. It at once came 
into public favor and appreciation and became the town's center 
of literary interest to which all v;sitors and home-comers are 
attracted. It is an enduring monument of honor to its donor 
and blessing to the community, through its broadening ediica- 
ti(inal lieneficence and ele^'atinc:■ social influences. 



?il STORY OF BL'CKl'lKLD 445 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
Railroads. 

The construction of the LUickfiekl Uranch Railroad, the 
original of the present railroad system, through the eastern 
part of Oxford County, was a great undertaking for a small 
country town, and a striking indication of the energy and enter- 
prise of its citizens at a date when the ]:)uilding of railroads was 
in its infancy. When the project of connecting Montreal. 
Canada, by rail witii Portland, ^Nlaine, was first agitated, the 
business men of IJuckfield and other towns in the Androscoggin 
\ alley held a meeting at P)uckfield, July lo, 1835, for the pur- 
pose of securing the location through that section of the county. 
An organization was effected by the choice of John Briggs, Esq., 
of Sumner,- as President, and Samuel F. Brown, Esfj., of Buck- 
field, Secretary. Appropriate resolutions were passed and a 
committee consisting of William Lowell, \'irgil D. Parris. with 
the president and secretary, was selected lo represent the Oxford. 
County towns through which the railroad might be built, before 
any incorporated body was authorized to construct it. A com- 
mittee composed of Col. Aaron Parsons, Luther Bridgham and 
Adam Knight was chosen to make a survey for the road from 
Dixfield Village to Gray Corner. Nothing, however, came 
from these proceedings, but in Alarch, 1845, the year in which 
the Atlantic & St. Lawrence R. R. Company was incorporated, 
a meeting was held at IJuckfield Milage and the efi^'ort was 
renewed to obtain its construction through the towns in eastern 
Oxford County, and a committee was chosen to survey a route 
from Mechanic Falls to Rumford Point. When it had fin.dly 
been determined to construct the road through Oxford, Paris 
and Woodstock in the Little Androscoggin A'alley, instead of 
through Hebron and Buckfield, it was determined by the lousiness 
men of Buckfield and others interested with them, to build a 
road from the village to Mechanic brails to connect with the 
Atlantic & St. Lawrence railroad, and northward from l'>.ickheld 
to Canton and Rumford as soon as circumstances would permit. 

Hon. ^^irgil D. Parris took the lead in this enterprise, and 
on the 22(1 day of July. 1847, '^*-'- '^^'^th 36 others, nearly all 
citizens of Buckfield, obtained a charter to construct the "Ihick- 



446 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

field Branch Railroad." Mr. Parris was chosen President and 
Washington Long, Treasurer, of the company. Sufficient stock 
having been subscribed, ground was broken for the road at 
Buckfield Milage, with appropriate exercises on the 31st day of 
October, 1848, amid a great concourse of people, from Buckfield 
and adjoining towns. The address was made by Hon. \'irgil 
D. Parris. Rev. Nathaniel Chase, the first settled minister and 
a soldier of the Revolution, then 87 years old, invoked the 
divine blessing, and Jonathan Record, 93 years old, also a soldier 
in the War for Independence, who had assisted in bushing out 
a path for the first settlers as they came into town, threw the 
first shoverful of earth into a wheelbarrow and Capt. Josiah 
Parris, still another Revolutionary War soldier, wheeled it away. 
In the procession were five other Revolutionary veterans. 

Work was begun at once and before February of the follow- 
ing year, one-fourth of the distance to ^lechanic Falls had been 
graded, and contracts for the rails placed. The year 1849 ^^'^.s 
one of great activity among the business men of the village. A 
large station or depot as it was then called, was built and an 
engine house erected, and before the year ended, the rails were 
laid to Mechanic Falls. The Atlantic & St. Lawrence road was 
opened to South Paris and on the nth day of January, 1850, 
the first train hauled by the little locomotive named the "Path- 
finder," arrived at the village amid the booming of cannon. 
Ozen Spaulding, the former stage driver, who had elsewhere 
been in railroad service, was the first conductor on the train. 
He continued in this service till the autumn of 1856. The first 
depot master was Kimball X. Prince. He was succeeded by 
Simeon Hussey and George H. Bailey, — Dr. Bailey, the well- 
known veterinary surgeon of Portland. He boarded at the 
Bridgham. Hotel on the present site of the Spaulding store, which 
was burned on the night of May 13, 1854, and he barely escaped 
with only the clothing he wore. He was succeeded that year by 
J aims Harlow, who remained till after train service was sus- 
pended and was entrusted with many interests by the company. 
]\Ioses B. Thomes was one of the early engineers on the tram, 
and took great pride in his engine. He ran the first three, the 
"Pathfinder," "Y. D. Parris" and the "Buckfield." The last was 
the first good machine on the road. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 447 

In 1850 there were 122 Buckfield stockliolders of the com- 
pany, with holdings from one to 21 shares each — 320 in all at 
Sioo per share. Dr. William Bridgham owned 21 shares, and 
Addison G. Cole, Ira Gardner and Capt. James Jewett, 20 shares 
each. The railroad centralized a large amount of business in 
tlie village, stimulating all branches of trade and industry, and 
greatly increasing its material growth and population, but the 
building and equipment of the road had proved an expensive 
affair, and its constant maintenance soon gave rise to many 
hnancial embarrassments. In October, 1849, the road had been 
mortgaged to Hon. Francis O. J. Smith for $35,000. The earn- 
ings of the road for a short time were sufficient to meet its run- 
ning expenses, but not enough to pay any of this mortgage. 
But ere long it began to run behind in its running expenses, and 
when Smith's mortgage had grown to some $40,000 from accu- 
mulated interest, an additional debt of an equally large sum had 
accumulated, and Smith took i)ossession of the road in 185 1 
under his mortgage. Under the law, the stockholders could be 
assessed to double the original amount of their stock, and Smith 
tried to realize money by this method, on those who had property. 
Some paid in full, some effected settlements through compromise, 
some conveyed their property away to evade payment, and others 
resisted in the courts, only to be beaten in the end and subjected 
to additional costs and expense. Thus, in a few years the orig- 
inal stock of the road became worthless, and this great loss was 
a shattering blow to many individual fortunes, the effects of 
which are felt to this day. The people of Buckfield sunk over 
$50,000 in the road. 

In October, 1852, Smith rendered a statement of the business 
of the road for the year, showing receipts of $10,674 and expen- 
ditures of $10,890. The mortgage indebtedness then amounted 
to a sum over $51,000. Meantime. Smith had started the project 
to extend the road to Canton I*oint, with the ultimate idea of a 
further extension to Farmington, and the towns through wdiich 
the road was to be built were asked to aid the enterprise to the 
amount of S50.000. The work of grading the road bed was 
begun and Smith, in March, 1853, brought his family to Buck- 
field and became a resident of the town. Among his schemes 
w^as the Utopian plan of running a .steamboat up the Androscog- 
gin river from Canton I'oint to Rumford Falls, and the same 



448 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

month he nioveil to BacktielJ the Androscoggin Xavigation Com- 
pany was incorporated, of which Hon. Cornelius Holland of 
Canton was president. In 1854 a steamboat was built at Canton 
Point by William Robinson of Buckfield with a crew of men 
antl launched, but the numerous shoals of the river rendered 
its navigation impossible, and the boat was left to decay wliere 
it was built. 

In 1855 the tirst railroad bridge across the river at Buckheld 
\'illage was built. Smith had a v'sionary side to his nature 
which sometimes led him into projects that failed through prac- 
tical foresight, or lack of financial resources. The Uncktield 
railroad proved to be one of his ventures of misfortune. He 
failed to meet the wages of the men he had employed to con- 
struct the Canton extension, and after a time they quit work, 
^lany vexatious law suits resulted from his failure to pay them. 
The question of land damages on the extension proved to be a 
troublesome one. In some cases the land had been given, and 
where it hadn't, settlement was rightfully demanded, but rarely 
obtained in accordance with agreements. The claims of Hon. 
Zadoc Long and others, at Smith's suggestion, were referred to 
the county commissioners, but before the awards were made 
known he declined to be bound by them for the alleged reason 
that the proceedings were not in legal form. 'Sir. Addison G. 
Cole, one of the men having such claim, who had lost $4,000 
in the original stock, took matters into his own hands, and 
barricaded the road with large boulders which prevented the 
passage of trains. ^Nlr. Isaiah. Perkins, on his farm near 
^lechanic Falls on the old portion of the road, his claim not 
being adjusted, tore up the track, as did also Josiah Perkins 
of ^Minot, thus stopping the trains, and the mail and passengers 
were conveyed by hand cars on either side of the break, till the 
Post Office Department interfered and terminated its contract 
with Smith. Then a stage was run from Mechanic Falls to 
Buckfield. 

In August. 1856, Smith issued a circular to "All Persons 
Interested," in which he stated that in his live years" management 
of the road he had sunk upwards of $12,000 per annum in 
addition to loss of time and effort and impairment of his health, 
and gave notice that he should suspend running the road ''from 
and after the loth dav of October next," and until the whole 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 449 

road to Canton Point was completed. And if the land damages 
claimed between "Corliss Mills and Canton Mills" were satisfied 
and $45,000 of the "donation notes" were made cash or payment 
within six months guaranteed, he would obligate himself to 
complete and run the road to Canton ]\Iills \'illage within the 
year. This appeal met with no response, and Smith housed the 
rolling stock at Buckfield, closed the stations and retired from 
all management of the affairs of the road. Smith having become 
sole owner of the road by the foreclosure of his mortgage, its 
original name of "The Buckfield Branch" was dropped and a 
new corporation was formed in April, 1857, under the name of 
The Portland & Oxford Central Railroad Company, whose 
charter gave it the right to construct a road from Portland 
through Westbrook, Falmouth, Cumberland, Gray, New Glouces- 
ter, Poland and over the road bed of the old road to Canton 
Point. The destinies of the new road still remained in Smith's 
hands, and nothing was done towards putting in operation the 
old part of the route or building any portion of the new. In 
i860 Smith submitted to the people plans for putting the road 
in operation and asked for a renewal of the pledges from the 
interested towns of $50,000, and the citizens of Buckfield wanted 
tlie road run so much that at a town meeting held in May of 
that year, a loan of $15,000 was voted, conditioned on the com- 
pletion of the road to Canton Point within the year, with safe- 
guards for its permanent operation. The conditions were never 
complied with, and the appropriation was not used. 

The road remained unused until the spring of 1862, when it 
was put in operation by Mr. A. R. Morrill, who was probably 
tlie agent of Smith. It was sufficiently repaired for train service 
at a low rate of speed, first to Buckfield and later to East Sumner 
village, where there was stage connection with Canton. Some 
•mprovements continued to be made and the public soon began 
to have considerable confidence in its permanent operation, 
believing that Smith's influence in the management of its affairs 
had in some way been gotten rid of. F. W. Felton, Esq., became 
the company's president and a Mr. Adams its superintendent, 
and for a few years during the war period, the road did a pros- 
perous business and trains were run quite regularly. But after 
a time the administration of affairs changed, and the old con- 
trolling influences reappeared. Notice was given in 1864 that 



450 HISTORY OF BUCKFU::LD 

an amendment to its charter would be petitioned the Legislature 
for, to alter the location in some sections and discontinue 
it in others, as determined by consent of the stock and 
bond holders. The people believed that this project was a covert 
design to remove the rolling stock and rails under the inflation 
of war prices, and so much opposition was made to the propo- 
sition, that nothing was dtVne about it. In 1867 Francis B. 
Smith, son of the owner of the road, became president of the 
company and its alTairs were largely managed by officials from 
Xew York, with ^Ir. D. A. \anvalkenburg as superintendent. 
Young Smith came to lUickfield to reside and later went to 
Canton. The free and easy management of affairs that followed 
soon produced its inevitable results. The earnings of the road 
Avere insufficient to meet running expenses, and its officials were 
constantly handicapped for lack of funds, and matters went 
from bad to worse. The old expedient of obtaining funds from 
the towns along the line of the road was tried, but did. not suc- 
ceed. The management determ'ned to force m.atters, and punish 
the people by depriving them of the benefits of the road, and 
the running of trains, and at a meeting of stockholders at Port- 
land in June of that year, the president was empowered to sell 
and remove the rolling stock and rails, and in September he with 
•Van \ alkenburg and a crew of men at Hartford Center began 
tearing up the track on the farm of Mr. Lucius Rob'nson, wdio 
resisted this action and through JTon. George D. Bisbee, then 
a practicing lawyer at Buckfield, brought trespass suits against 
them, and after a second attempt to tear up the rails had in like 
manner been defeated, no further etYort was made to destroy 
the road. Mr. Bisbee's prompt action, though of doubtful 
legality, saved the road from irretrievable despoliation. The 
road having been fully completed to Hartford in December of 
that year, the towns were asked to loan t'leir credit for $50,000 
to extend it to Canton by January i, 1870. Canton voted some 
§30,000. Hartford $6,500, but Buckfield at two town meetings 
refused to make any appropriation, though offered a lien on 
the rails as security in case of failure of the company's obliga- 
tions. Individuals, however, j:)ledged considerable aid. The 
companv went forward with the work of construction without 
the help of Buckfield, and by laying ties on frozen ground and 
ice a train was run into Canton at the specified time, but when 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 451 

the frosts of spring haJ disappeared, trains could not be run 
over this improvised track. Canton had issued its bonds to the 
elder Smith to the amount of $32,200, but the selectmen of 
Hartford claiming a failure of conditions, refused to sign the 
bonds and Smith brought suit to compel their issue, but was 
defeated.. Canton subsequently brought an action against Smith 
lor the recovery of the am(,)unt of the bonds issued, and 
reco\'ered judgment lor the whole sum and costs, and accepte.1 
land in W^estbrook in satisfaction of the judgment. 

The whole history of the road under the name of the Port- 
land & Oxford Cential R. R. Co. would fill a large volume of 
interesting details. With the exception of the first few years, 
it presents a record of mismariagement, incompetency, disregard 
of pledges and reckless indift'erence to private and public rights, 
almost without parallel in sucl) enterprises. Lender this system 
of management no undertaking could long survive, and the 
people along" the line of the road finally became so tired of it that 
the Railroad Commissioners of the State were impelled to peti- 
tion the Supreme Court to issue an injunction against the run- 
r.ing of trains till further order of the court, and this was done 
in November, 1873. The ofi^icials removed, the rolling stock and 
the road was dead, but its ixa.-sing was without mourners, and 
the people of Buckfield drew a breath, of relief. 

Through the efforts of the business men of Buckfield and 
others, a charter was obtained from the Legislature in ^^larch, 
1874, for a railroad from the city of Auburn to Mechanic Falls 
and thence over the road bed of the Portland & Oxford Central 
Railroad Company to Canton, and up the Androscoggm river 
valley to Rumford Falls. Thi> was the skillful work of Hon. 
George D. Bisbee, and the charter was granted for the manifest 
abuses of the rights and duties of that company toward the 
public and its neglect to operate the road and keep it in repair. 
Some of the old stagers in legislative proceedings, doubted the 
right of tlie State to deprive another company of its property 
in that manner, and they declared that they had never seen or 
heard of such summary nctioii. Mr. Bisbee insisted that by its 
ilagrant abuses, cimtinued through many years, the old company 
h.ad forfeited all its rights in the road and the people along its 
route were entitled to relief by this drastic remedy. He was 
right, as subsequent events finall}- demonstrated, and the chief 



452 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

credit for this action of the Legislature should be given to him. 
It was some time, however, before the capital necessary to repair 
the road, bridges and stations and procure rolling stock, had 
been provided for. Finally, in 1877, former Governor Israel 
Washburn and other capitalists, having become financially 
interested in the road., efforts were made to put it into operation. 
Canton donated its real estate in Westbrook which it obtained 
on its judgment against Smith. Buckfield voted $1,000 in aid 
of the enterprise, and its citizens $2,000 more. New rolling 
."^tock was ordered and early the next spring work commenced 
and was vigorously pushed along the whole line. A new station, 
also, was built that year at the village. On Saturday, the 13th 
of July, 1878, the first train under the new management was run 
over the road, carrying the company officials and visiting gentle- 
men. They received a joyful reception from the people at every 
station. The train was in charge of Mr. Ozen Spaulding, who 
was the first conductor on the old Buckfield Branch. On the 
following JNIonday, regular passenger and freight service was 
begun, which has since uninterruptedly continued. The new 
officials of the road were Israel Washburn, president, George D. 
Bisbee, clerk, Sullivan C. Andrews, treasurer, and S. F. Courser, 
superintendent. 

For the first ten years, the earnings of the road about met 
running expenses, but with the extension to Rumford Falls 
where a place has sprung up great enough for a city, when its 
citizens shall desire it. and large manufacturing interests have 
been developed, and further extensions made from the latter 
village to Oquossoc in the lake region; from Canton to Chis- 
holm's Mills in Livermore ; and from Mechanic Falls to Lewis- 
ton, the business of the road has largely expanded, and is now 
a source of profit to the management of tlie road. It is now 
under lease to the Maine Central Railroad Company, and through 
that connection, is a part of the Boston & Maine railroad system. 
Thus, from the present satisfactory outlook of affairs, the early 
sacrifices, and long continued burdens of the people of Buckfield, 
in the interests of a railroad were not wholly in vain. Their 
efforts and sacrifices were as bread cast upon the waters, which, 
after many vears, has in part returned to bless the town and its 
people. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 458 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

Annals Continued. 

1875. 
O. F. Gardner was re-elected town clerk, but died a very few days 
afterward, and Cyrus C Spaulding was elected to fill the vacancy. — For 
representative to the legislature: Nathan Morrill, Deni., had 199; Jason 
Farrar, Rep., 141 ; Merritt Farrar, Lib. Rep., 4. Jason Farrar carried the 
district and was elected. — The Buckfield Reform Club was organized May 
2ist with a large membership. — There was a big hail storm July 21st 
which did great damage to the fruit trees and crops. In some places, the 
hail stones were in sufficient quantity to be gathered the next day after the 
storm. Two bushels were taken from the stairs between the Hines and 
the Thomes stores. 

1876. 
At the annual town meeting, A. F. Mason was elected supt. 
school committee and S. Bridgham, collector of taxes, at a salary 
of $93. — The selectmen were instructed to sell the poor farm, "if 
they can get a fair price." Also for them to use all legal 
means to collect the execution against Seth Sampson. And to sell 
the shoe factory to M. A. Hanson for $1500, $200 down and $300 a year 
with interest until paid. — The vote for governor this year was as follows : 
John C. Talbot, Dem., 157; Selden Connor, Rep., 121; Almon Gage, 
Green., 107. — For Presidential electors : "Tilden Ticket," 121 ; "Hayes 
Ticket," no; "Cooper Ticket," 93. — The amount of capital employed in 
manufacturing industries in the village this year was $75,000; males em- 
ployed, 78; females, 17. The industries mentioned were; The brush fac- 
tory of Charles Withington & Sons, the boot and shoe factories of M. A. 
Hanson, C M. Dacey, and Record & Foster, shovel handle factory of 
Andrews & Waldron. E. G. Cole manufactured boxes, Jason Farrar, 
snow shovels, and G. A. Harlow, die blocks. — Nov. 23d, King Buck's 
buildings were burned with most of their contents. — Dec. 1st, the saw 
mill of Record & Lunt was totally consumed by fire with a- large quantity 
of lumber. There was no insurance. — Hon. F. O. J. Smith died at his 
home in Deering, in October, in the 70th year of his age. — John D. Long 
was this year chosen Speaker of the Mass. House of Representatives, and 
was twice re-elected. 

1877. 
The sum of $2,200 was raised to pay town debt, the money to be used 
for that purpose and no other. — Merrit Farrar was selected to take charge 
of the town farm. — The vote for governor this year stood: H. C. Mun- 
son. Green., 175; Joseph H. Williams, Dem., 76; Selden Connor, Rep., 74. 
— At a town meeting held in December, to act on the proposition to raise 
monev to aid in the construction of the Portland and Oxford Central 



454 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

R. R., a vote was passed to raise $10,000 and Geo. D. Bisbee, Thomas S. 
Bridgham and Alfred Cole were chosen a committee to make contracts 
with the managers of the road. — The buildings of Mrs. Hannah Monk at 
North Buckfield were burned Feb. 11. One cow and nearly all the furni- 
ture were also burned. Loss, $1000. There was no insurance. — $3,500 
was paid this year on the town debt. The interest bearing debt in 1874 
was $32,731. Paid that year, $3,159. In 1875, $5,000. In 1876, $3,550. 
Funded debt, Feb. 15, 1S77, $21,019. — Geo. Robinson, son of Mr. William 
F. Robinson, died in Februar\-, from the kick of a horse. — Among the 
deaths this year were those of Toel Foster who passed awaj' on the 14th 
of July at the age of 79, and Lemuel Cole Oct. 6th, aged 73 years 8 mos. 

1878. 
E. B. Austin was elected school committee; Ephraim Lowe, collector 
of taxes at a salan,- of $100. — ^$2,000 was raised towards paying the town 
debt. — At the September election, the vote for representative to the legis- 
lature was : R. C. Thomes, Dem., 38 ; Henry D. Irish, Green., 203 ; Albion 
P. Bonney, Rep., 92; scattering, 2. Mr. Henry D. Irish had a majority 
in the district and was elected. — Buckfield raised $3,000 to put the railroad 
in operation again. LTnder the new management, — Israel Washburn, Jr., 
was president, S. C. Andrews, treasurer, and Geo. D. Bisbee, secretary — 
the road promised to be of benefit to the people. New railroad passenger 
station built this year. — ^'aranes DeCoster and 42 others signed a peti- 
tion to the legislature to move the county buildings to Norway and make 
it the shire town. William H. Atwood and 53 others signed a remon- 
strance against the same. — The Hanson shoe factoni- was burned during 
the night of Feb. 15. Loss about $10,000. Insured for $8,000. — There was 
a great freshet in December. By the bursting of G. A. Harlow's flume, 
the stable of ^Ir. W. A. Burt with his horse, wagons, hay, etc., were car- 
ried over two dams. The horse was rescued a half mile below. Gilbert 
Barrett's sled factory- was carried away. Most of the machinery was 
saved. The roads were badly gullied and the bridges much damaged. 
The railroad company run no regular trains for about two weeks. The 
water was higher than in the great freshet of 1869. — The railroad was 
opened this year. — A. G. Atkinson fell dead from heart disease while 
working in his field in August. 

1879. 
At the annual town meeting, $2500 was raised toward paying the to\\n 
debt and $4000 to be expended in labor on the highways. — Levi Gammon 
died at East Buckfield, Nov. 26, aged 92. His father was David Gammon, 
who moved into the town from Gorham, Maine, when Levi was three 
years old. Levi lived over So years on the farm where he died. For 
more than 60 years prior to his death, he had been a member of the Bap- 
tist church. — In April, Artemas F. Gregg, a member of the Sophomore 
class in Bowdoin College, was found one morning dead in his bed from 
the effects of chloroform, taken to relieve pain. — Hon. John D. Long was 
this vear elected Lieut. Governor of Mass. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 455 

1880. 
$3,000 was raised towards extinguishing the town debt. — For repre- 
sentative to the legislature, James H. DeCoster, Rep., had 147 ; Thomas 
S. Bridgham, Dem., 245. Bridgham had a majority in the whole district 
and was elected. — On the amendment to the constitution to elect governor 
by plurality, the vote was: Yes, 94; no, 246. — For presidential electors: 
"Hancock Ticket." 31; "Garlield Ticket." 126; "Greenback Ticket," 31; 
"Fusion Ticket," 251. — The town lines were perambulated this year. — 
Lewis Mason died at East Buckfield, March 19, aged 71 years and 4 
months. "His wife was one of the 93 grandchildren of Dea. William 
Berr>-, who had lived and died on the same farm." — The Buckfield House 
was thoroughly repaired in April and opened to the public in May with 
X. T. Shaw as landlord. — Oscar H. Hersey, Esq., was appointed census 
enumerator for Buckfield this year. The population of the town was 
1379. — A Methodist Society having been organized, funds were raised this 
year to erect a church. A lot was purchased near where the Capt. Josiah 
Parris house once stood, on Loring's Hill. — Mrs. Julia A., wife of El- 
bridge D. Whitman, died Aug. 20, aged 61. — Hon. John D. Long was 
elected Governor of Mass. He was twice re-elected. 

1881. 
E. B. Austin was elected supt. school committee ; Carlton Gardner, col- 
lector of taxes. — $2500 was raised toward extinguishing the town debt. — 
There was a severe rain storm on the 15th, i6th, 17th and i8th days of 
May. — A corn factory was eftablished in the village by J. Winslow Jones 
& Co. of Portland, and the farmers planted 300 acres with sweet corn 
and bean.-;. — Mrs. Sarah, widow of Hon. Noah Prince, died Aug. 2. — 
Ezekiel Record, son of David Record, one of the first 47 settlers, died on 
the 19th of May, in the 96th year of his age. He was the oldest person 
in town at the time of his death. "He could remember the time when 
there were no open roads, no ministers, doctors or lawyers in town, and 
when the principal business street was fenced to keep the cattle out of the 
muddy bog." — William Morse, an aged citizen, committed suicide by hang- 
ing himself in his barn.— The Methodist church was completed this year 
and dedicated with appropriate exercises. 

1882. 
Alfred Cole was elected supt. school committee. — $2500 was raised 
towards paying the town debt. — The failure of J. Winslow Jones of Port- 
land involved several citizens of the town, who had assisted in establish- 
ing the corn canning industry. 

1883. 

Alfred Cole was elected town clerk. John F. DeCoster was chosen 

supt. school committee. — $1600 was raised towards paying the town debt. 

— O. H. Hersey was chosen to audit the road bills.— This year Xezinscot 

[,o(lge, L O. O. F., was instituted with seven charter members. — "The 



456 HISTORY OF BL"CKFTELD 

year 1SS3 was a year of health for Buckfield. The hst of those >vho died 
this year contains but 18 names, having an average of over 60 years. The 
youngest was a babe of three months, the oldest, a man of 86. One-third 
of the whole number were over So, while one-half had passed their three- 
score years and ten." — Hon. John D. Long was this year elected as a 
Member of Congress from Mass. He was twice re-elected. 

1S8U. 
Doings at the annual town meeting: Si.Ooo was raised towards extin- 
guishing the town debt. — Voted that the selectmen be overseers of the 
poor, fence vieAvers and tythingmen. — On constitutional amendment pro- 
hibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors; the vote was: 
yes, 173; no, 82. — For presidential electors: "Dem. Ticket," 132; Rep. 
Ticket," 106; "Temp. Ticket," 29; "Peo. Ticket." 22. — Mark Lowell, Esq., 
died in October, aged 91. L"ntil a year prior to his death, he had been 
accustomed frequently to walk from his home to the village and back, a 
distance of six miles. — Mrs. Joseph DeCoster of Mechanic Falls, a former 
resident of Buckfield, was nm over by a train on the Buckfield Branch 
railroad and instantly killed. Her remains were taken to Buckfield for 
burial. — The bnish factor>- of C. W'ithington & Sons was •)urned on the 
night of July i8th. Loss, $5,000, insured for only Si,6oo. The firm pur- 
chased the Xahum Moore mill and soon resumed business. — Tiie following 
graves of Civil W ar soldiers were decorated on Memorial Day : Village 
cemeten., A. F. Barrows, Cyrus Bn.ant, Austin C. Buck. James Canwell, 
Lorenzo Cushman. Kinsman Holmes. HenrA- C. Long, \V. \\ allace Marston, 
James Murdock. Eliphaz Ripley. Burton Shaw. East Bucktield cemetery: 
James B. Bryant, W ilUam B. DeCoster, Clinton Forbes. William Irish, 
Stephen O. Irish, Elmore Young. Hall cemetery : Augustus G. Buck 
Lowell cemeten.- : Charles Chase. Cemeterv" near J. M. Chesley's : Claren- 
don Benson. — The W'inslow Packing Co. this year put up 375,000 cans 
of sweet com and succotash at the com factory ; 200 hands were employed 
in the business; 300 acres of sweet com had been planted by the farmers. — 
Stephen Childs died Dec. 27 at the age of 76. while visiting liis son. John 
Lewis Childs, at Floral Park, Long Island, X. Y. 

1S85. 
At annual town meeting : S1400 was raised toward the extinguishment 
of the town debt. — It was voted to abolish the school districts and adopt 
the town system. — 18 inches of snow fell on the night of Feb. l6th. — 
— Eleazer Chase, an aged citizen of East Buckfield. died on the loth of 
Februarv". In his younger days, he was addicted to the use of alcoholic 
drinks. He afterwards signed the pledge, which he kept sacredly imtil 
his death. Rev. Levi Hersey died Mar. 12 in the 82d year of his age. 
Remains interred in New Gloucester. — C. B. Atwood began trade again in 
Buckfield this year in the Morrill store. He had resided elsewhere for 
many years. — Mrs. Emily Crooker died March 22d, aged 80. — Joan M. 
Berr> died May 7th. at the age of 66. — Mrs. G. Washington Bisbee died 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 457 

at the residence of her son, Hon. George D. HisLee, Mav 25, aged 68. — 
William Creasy, formerh- postmaster at Buckfield, was injured so severely 
July 20 by a fall from a staging, at Minneapolis, Minn., that he died within 
half an hour after his fall. He was 66 years old. He left Buckfield about 
1855 to settle in the West. — Four brothers, Elias, Asa, William L., and 
Thomas Taylor met at Asa's in November. They were sons of Jabez and 
Dorcas (Irish; Taylor. Their average age was 80. — The Ira Ames shop 
was moved across the street and remodeled inside for a post office. 

1886. 
At annual town meeting : Voted to reconsider the vote of last year, 
whereby the town voted to abolish the school districts. — Voted to return 
to the district system and to instruct the agents to hire the teachers, pro- 
vide wood, etc. — The vote for representative to the legislature in Septem- 
ber was as follows: James S. Wright, 125; Dr. Chas. B. Bridgham, 53; 
Henn,- D. Irish, 3. — The celebration at the village July 4th was marred by 
a serious accident. Isaac D. Fuller, who was in charge of the artillery, 
in firing the sunrise salute, had both arms so badly shattered that amputa- 
tion was necessary. — Jesse Shaw, Buckfield's oldest citizen, died Sept. 12, 
aged 96 years and 10 months. — Chas. Withington died Jan. 10, aged 71. — 
Jeremiah Packard died in Hebron May 4tli, "aged 63." — Mrs. Lydia, widow 
of Lemuel Cole, died Aug. 17, in her 83d year. — Rodney Chaffin, a native 
of Buckfield, died in Portland in May. — Abijah Buck, grandson of the 
pioneer of that name, died Oct. 30, at Mechanic Falls, at the age of 74. 
His remains were brought to Buckfield for burial. — The remains of James 
Spaulding, Esq., who died the same month at Earlville, 111., aged 8g, at the 
residence of his son-in-law, Jacob W. Browne, Esq., were taken to Buck- 
field for interment. 

1887. 
At the annual town meeting $150 was raised to establish a free high 
school at Buckfield. — George H. Bridgham was elected collector of taxes. 
— Voted that the selectmen be road commissioners. — R. B. Waite was 
chosen superintendent of the town farm. — There was a great freshet in 
April. The river rose five feet in as many hours. — Butter factory built 
this year. — Several prominent citizens died this year. Nathan Morrill, 
Esq., the wealthiest citizen of the town, died Jan. 29th, aged 84. Hon. 
Gilbert Barrett died the same day at the age of 69. H. H. Hutchinson, 
Jr., died June 2, aged T2)'> Silas Mitchell, Nov. 26, aged 69. — Col. A. D. 
White, Dec. 13, in his 80th year. He was b. in Freedom July 17, 1808. 
He m. in 1837, Miss Lydia, dau. of Rev. Ephraim Harlow. For many 
years he was one of the foremost citizens of the town.— Mrs. Dominicus 
Record, Jr., a daughter of Larnard Swallow, died in Turner, in December, 
in her 91st year. Her remains were brought to Buckfield for burial. Her 
liusband had died in 1862. James Hussey, a soldier in the Civil War, died 
Oct. 13, aged 83. Clinton Ripley found dead m his stable in Dixfield 
Oct. 29. — There were in all tliirtv deaths in town this year. — William 



458 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Bicknell of Hartford, for many years tlie East Buckfield cor- 
respondent of the Oxford Douocrat. died February 19, in the 83d 
j-ear of his age. — Mrs. Lydia Childs, widow of Stephen Childs, died at 
Floral Park, N. Y., aged 77. 

1888. 
At the annual town meeting this year, $1800 was raised towards the 
extinguishment of the town debt and $15 for Memorial Day. — \'oted that 
the supervisor of schools take all necessary measures "to place the school 
system of the town on a legal basis." — Dr. John F. DeCoster was chosen 
supervisor. — ^'oted that the town immediately take possession of all the 
school property and return to the district system. — For presidential 
electors: "Dem. Ticket," 131; "Rep. Ticket," 144; "Pro. Ticket," 18; 
"Labor Ticket," 4. — There were five persons living in town this year over 
90 years of age. — \'aranes DeCoster, Esq., died Jan. 12, of heart disease, 
aged 77. — Mrs. J. G. Spaulding, dan. of Hiram Hines, died Dec. 3, aged 
50. — The wife of Dr. J. C. Caldwell died June Jth, aged 36; Samuel B. 
Churchill, Sept. 27, in his 80th year; Miss Lydia Bridgham, Dec. o, aged 
83. — Mrs. James Roberts, April 15, aged 70; Leander Hodgdon, Aug. 24, 
aged 7^ ; Mrs. Eliza Riple\-, widow Valentine Ripley, aged 69. — There were 
in all 19 deaths in town this year. — Mr. Nathaniel Merrill, a former resi- 
dent and a brother of Ex-Gov. Samuel Merrill of Iowa, died at East 
Hebron, Jan. 7, aged 77. — Holman W. W'aldron died Xov. 6, at Xew 
Castle, Ind., aged 59. 

1889. 
Toothpick and block factory below R. R. Station built this year by 
Granville A. Harlow. — Mrs. Jtilia Temple Long, widow of Hon. Zadoc 
Long, died Sept. 19, aged 82. — Maj. Lucius Loring died Sept. 23, in his 
92d 3-ear. — Sullivan C.Andrews, Esq., died at Cambridge, Mass., Xov. 10, 
of Bright's disease, aged 64. — J. C. Burroughs died at Somerville, Mas.-., 
Aug. 12, at the age of 87. His remains were taken to Buckfield for burial. 
— Elias Taylor died X^ov. 30, in his 95th year. — Hiram Hines, Esq., died in 
Lewiston, Dec. 27. His remains were brought to Buckfield for burial. — 
Airs. X'athan Maxim died at the age of 80; Mrs. Melzer Buck, in her 79th 
year. — There \\ere 2^ deaths in all in town this year. 

1890. 
Alfred Cole was elected a member of the school committee for 3 years, 
Miss A. H. Prince, 2 years, and L. C. Waterman, i year. — For representa- 
tive to the legislature, O. H. Hersey, Rep., had 136; C. C. Spaulding, Dem., 
75; R. B. W'aite, Pop., 17 — The Buckfield House was burned on the night 
of April 4 Loss, $3,500. Partially insured. The town lines were per- 
ambulated this year. — The following old people above 7S years old, were 
living at X". Buckfield this year : Mrs. Stephen Spaulding, aged 96, oldest 
person in town: Winchester Spaulding, aged 86; Mrs. William Bisbee, 
aged 76; Mrs. Washington Heald, aged 87; Mrs. Samuel Buck, aged 80; 
Mrs. Cyrus Record, aged 86; Jane Spaulding, aged 76; Mrs. Tristram 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 459 

Warren, aged 83; Mrs. Larnard Swallow, aged "]"/; Mrs. A. D. White, 
aged 75; Africa Farrar, aged 80. — The Buckfield village corporation went 
into effect this year. The Shaw bridge over the East Branch was rebuilt. — 
Tristram G. Bicknell died Feb. 8, aged 79. — William E. Wood, a Civil War 
soldier, died Feb. 22, aged 52. — Mrs. Almira Murdock died, aged 69; 
Courtney Record, May 13, aged 74; Alden Bessey, June 4, aged 83; Deering 
Mayhew, Sept. 25, aged ^^. — Odd Fellows Hall erected on site of former 
shoe factories. 



Dogs were taxed. — The school districts were abolished and tlic town 
sy.stem adopted. — The war debt, originally about $40,000, was extinguished 
this year. — The following aged persons died this year: January, Lucius 
Young, in his 74th year; Feb. 3, Mrs. Sophia Spaulding, in her 97th year, 
the oldest person in town ; Feb. 6, Hollis Hall, aged 67 ; March, Dea. 
Henry Bangs, aged 79. He had resided in Buckfield 13 years. The re- 
mains were taken to Randolph, Mass., for burial. March 24, Lorenzo 
Atwood, Esq., aged 78 ; Mar. 24, Mrs. America Farrar, aged 81 ; April 4, 
Ephraim Atwood, Esq., aged 82; May 15, Winchester Spaulding, in his 
87th year; June 29, Mrs. Lucy B. Hammond, aged 79; July 17, Mrs. Lydia, 
widow of Col. A. D. White. 

1892. 
At the annual town meeting Appleton F. Mason and \'. P. DeCoster 
were appointed sub-registrars of vital statistics. — The following was thi 
valuation of the school district property as appraised by the selectmen and 
school committee: Federal school house, $300; Hartford line school house, 
$200; Whiting school house, $75; Chase school house, $50; South Hill 
school house, $100; Packard school house, $25; Hebron line school house, 
$50; Waldron school house, $25; Leonard school house, $50; Buck school 
house, $50; Prince school house, $150; M. Farrar school house, $50; Brock 
school house, $100; N. Buckfield school house, $300; village school house, 
$2500; total, $4025. — Voted to raise $1350 for the equalization of school 
property. — $500 was raised for repairing school houses. — Voted to consoli- 
date the Packard school with the Hebron line school and to build a new 
school house near the spot formerly occupied by the old Lothrop school 
house.— Frank P. Withington, A. W. Libby, Fred H. Atwood and Chas. 
P. Hatch w ere appointed ballot clerks. — For presidential electors : "Rep. 
Ticket," 133; "Dem. Ticket," 123; "Pro. Ticket," 10; "Peo. Ticket," 9.— A 
genuine cyclone struck the northwestern part of the town July 3d and 
swept down everything in a path from 5 to 25 rods in width and about 4 
or 5 miles in length. The bams of A. S. Bessey, Herman Morse, Virgil 
D. Bicknell and Sidney Swallow^ were completely destroyed. Several 
houses were badly damaged. The dwelling house of Herman Morse was 
lifted from its foundations and moved about 15 feet. Five persons were 
in the house at the time. Shade and other trees were torn from their 
roots in great numbers. After the storm had passed, the path of the cy- 
clone presented a perfect scene of ruin and desolation. Mr. Morse sut- 



460 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

fered the greatest damage, his loss being about $2000. — Trains began run- 
ning regularly to Rumford Falls August ist. 

Col. Jacob W. Browne, who in the fifties practiced law at Buckfield, 
died at his home in Earlville, 111., Nov. 1st. The following is from his 
poem, "Age :" 

"Trees are in the yellow leaf — 
Corn is in the yellow sheaf — 

I question why 
I should weave the woof of life. 
Through the tangled web of strife, 
And then should die !" 

1893. 

The Chase and South Hill schools were consolidated.- — On the propo- 
sition to move the county seat from Paris Hill to South Paris and build 
a new court house at the latter place, the vote stood : Yes, yi \ no, 224. 
The yes vote in the county was 150 more than the no vote. The new court 
house was built in 1895. The records were moved to it the latter part of 
that year. — The following old people died this j-ear : Feb. 8, Howard D. 
Waldron, aged 67; March 3, Hanson Brown, aged 81; May 2, Mrs. James 
M. Johnson at Mechanic Falls, aged 87. Her remains were brought here 
for burial. June 2}), Silas Shaw, aged 80; July 6, Mrs. Washington 
Heald, in the 90th year of her age; August 11, Mrs. F. A. War- 
ren, aged ^T \ August, Isaac Bearce, Esq., of Perry, Maine, aged 
83. His remains were taken to Buckfield and interred in the cem- 
etery in the southeastern part of the town. Sept. 12, Dea. David Far- 
rar in the 92d year of his age, oldest person in town ; Oct., Mrs. William 
Lewis by suicide, at the age of 75 ; Nov. 16, Ruel Gray, in his 70th year. 

1894. 
It was decided to consolidate the Buck school with the village school ; 
also, the Leonard and Waldron schools. — The total appropriations this year 
amounted to $7,101.24. — O. H. Hersey, T. S. Bridgham, Horace A. Irish 
and Elmer B. Austin were appointed ballot clerks. — The vote for repre- 
sentative to the legislature was as follows : A. C. T. King, Rep., 97 ; J. A. 
Rawson, Dem, 80; A. C. Whitman, Pop., 28. — For clerk of courts, Chas. 
F. Whitman, Rep., had 124; William M. Brooks, Pro., 6; T. J. Whitehead, 
Pop., 14; George Hazen, Dem., 67. — At a town meeting, it was voted that 
the selectmen be instructed to purchase the old "Church on the Hill" for 
a town house at a price not exceeding $100. F. P. Withington, C. P. 
Hatch and Alfred Cole were appointed a committee to make the pur- 
chase.^ — In February, the Rumford Falls and Buckfield railroad made a 
junction with the Maine Central at Auburn. — This year Buckfield became 
connected by telephone line with South Paris by way of Paris Hill. — Hon. 
Geo. D. Bisbee moved in the autumn to Rumford Falls. He had made his 
residence in Buckfield almost 30 years. — The following deaths of old people 
are noted: April 8, Isaac Shaw, aged 88; June 30. Alary J. Hersey, aged 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 4(jl 

77 ; Aug. 2b, Rasselas Cole, aged 84 ; Sept. 22, Samuel P. Harlow, aged 62 ; 
Nov. 15, Almeda DeCoster, aged 78; Xov. 25, Mrs. Matilda Wood, aged 
85; Dec. 4, Mrs. Maria Irish, aged 79.— Machine shop built on Depot street 
by Arlington Damon. — Gov. John D. Long purchased this year the old 
liomcstead of his grandfatlier, Thomas Long, on Xortli Hill, for a summer 
residence. . It is situated in one of the most beautiful regions in town. 

1895. 

Tosiah \\\ Whitten, Esq., died Tan. 18, from lieart disease. He was 
73 and had lived in Buckfield nearly 60 years.— Several hundred dollars 
were raised by subscription this year to repair and preserve the old 
"Church on the Hill." — A. F. Warren, the drummer boy of Co. C, 23d 
Maine Infantry, was appointed deputy sheriff as the successor of J. W. 
Whitten, Esq. — April 26, Mrs. Benjamin Murch died in her 8oth year and 
Mrs. Wm. F. Spaulding, aged 62. — Ira Ames died at South Paris, May 22, 
aged 72. — At the annual meeting of the Buckfield Cemetery Association, 
the following officers were chosen : William H. Atwood, Pres. ; A. F. War- 
ren, Vice-Pres. ; C. H. Prince, Sec. and Treas. ; Asa Atwood, Benj. Spauld- 
ing, C. S. Childs, Ex. Com, — Mrs. Caroline Buck died at Bethel, June 6, 
aged 99 years and 8 months. Her remains were taken to Buckfield for 
burial. — The Evening Star lodge of freemasons participated in the exer- 
cises at South Paris when the corner stone of the new court house was 
laid in July. — Mrs. H. H. Hutchinson died in Lynn, Mass., in August, 
aged 84. Her remains were taken to Buckfield for burial. — Mrs. William 
j\Ionk died December 12, aged 77. — A new railroad bridge was constructed 
this y«ar at the village. — The "Church on the Hill" was dedicated as a 
town hall, Nov. 3d. — Two car loads of Christmas trees were shipped to 
New York this year. 

1896. 

At the annual town meeting, $1,350 was raised towards the extinguish- 
ment of the town debt; $1,000 for schools; $1,200 for support of the poor; 
$1,200 for the repair of the roads and bridges; $500 for town accounts; $25 
for the observance of Memorial Day; and $175 for a free high school. — A 
term of free high school was established at the Russell school house and, 
also, one at the Buck school house. — The vote for presidential electors : 
"Rep. Ticket," 137; "Dem. Ticket," 77; "Gold Dem. Ticket," 8; "Pro. 
Ticket," 6; "Peo. Ticket," 15. — The greatest freshet known for years 
occurred in Februar}-. The water rose about two feet higher than it was 
ever known to rise before. The low lands were over-flowed and many 
families left their homes for higher grounds, and stocks of goods were 
removed for safety. Stores were flooded and the main business street be- 
came a channel for the raging waters. Much damage was done. Several 
bridges were either swept away or destroyed. — The following deatlis of 
aged people are noticed : Jan. 2, Mrs. Cynthia Farrar, aged 91 years, the 
oldest person in town. Feb., Capt. I. H. McDonald at his home in Port- 
land, aged 77. Alay, Mrs. Luther W. Mason, in Boston, aged 80. Re- 
mains were brought here for burial. June, Addison G. Cole of Auburn, 



462 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

formerly of Buckfield, aged 84. The remains were taken to Bucktield for 
interment. June 14, Mrs. Sidney Spaulding, aged 86; August, Mrs. Ar- 
villa Record at Mechanic Falls, aged 93. Interment at Buckfield. Sept. 5, 
Zenas Shaw, aged 76; Sept. 4, Mrs. Elizabeth P. Beers of Newton High- 
lands, Mass., aged g6. 

1897. 

A new iron bridge was built across the West Branch in the village this 
year.^Alfred Cole delivered the Memorial address this year before Fes- 
senden Post, G. A. R. — Carlton Gardner, Esq., moved to South Paris in 
October. He returned to Buckfield in 1902, Hon. Albion P. Bonney sold 
his farm this year and moved to Auburn. It had been in the family name 
for more than a hundred years. His grandfather, James Bonney, first set- 
tled on it in 1789. — A young men's literary club was organized here about 
the beginning of the year. The first public debate took place at Nezinscot 
Hall on the evening of January ist. A ladies' literary society had been 
organized in 1895. — The remains of Airs. Melissa Irish Wells of Weymouth, 
Mass., who died in January, at the age of T2, were brought to Buckfield 
for burial. — Hepsibah Atwood Cole, widow of Artemas F. Cole, died Feb. 
17, aged 91 years. — Mrs. Silas Mitchell died Mar. 20, aged 68. — Mrs. Phebe 
Whitman died April 5, in her 75th year. — David L. Farrar, Esq., died in 
Mass. at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. King Buck, June 7. His re- 
mains were brought here for burial. — Mrs. Thomas Lincoln of East Buck- 
field, died June 22,, in her 88th year. — Cyrus C. Spaulding, Esq., died July 
3, aged 59. He was in trade in the village for many years, held the posi- 
tions of town clerk and selectman and had been a soldier in the 20th 
Maine where he contracted the disease which cau.=ed his death. Stephen 
D. Huntchinson, Esq., a former town clerk of Buckfield, died at Paris 
Hill, in his 85th year. — Dea. S. Edson Murdock died Nov. 7, after a short 
illness, in his 70th year. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion and 
was at Gettysburg as a member of Co. C, 20th Me. Reg't. — Died at West 
Minot Dec. 2, Airs. Caroline Crooker Bridgham, at the age of 91. Her 
remains were brought to Buckfield for interment. — This year Hon. John 
D. Long was appointed by President William McKinley as Secretary of 
the Navy. He served with great distinction through his four years' term. 
The Spanish War broke out in 1898, but through the efficiency of the 
Navy, an astonishing success was achieved, without the loss of a vessel, 
and the fewest lives ever known in a war of this magnitude. 

During the year of this war, the business of the Department of the 
Nav}-, under Mr. Long's supervision, aggregated over a hundred millions 
of dollars, and every dollar was properly accounted for. His townsmen 
are proud of the fact that there has never been anything in his political life 
or otherwise that requires apology. 

1898. 
The Irish Brothers' die block mill was destroyed by fire Feb. 27. The 
burning of this mill removed an old landmark. It was built as a starch 
mill in the forties by Ephraim and Lorenzo Atwood and Levi Cushman. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 4Gy 

Alter the opening of the Buckfield Branch railroad, it was converted into 
a sliovel liandle factory by Andrews, Waldron & Maxim. — Henry Parsons 
was elected road commissioner this year and Converse S. Childs, collector 
of taxes. Rev. H. A. Rich was chosen supt. of schools. Having moved 
out of town in the summer, he resigned. Block factory of C. M. & H. A. 
Irish built on site of starch factory burned this year. — Post Office en- 
larged. — One of the war tugs of the U. S. Xavy was named Nezinscot. — 
A. D. Wilson of So. Portland brought suit against the town for raising 
the highway in front of his store, which was rendered necessary by build- 
ing the new iron bridge the previous year. — There was a reunion of the 
members of the 23d Maine infantry at So. Paris this year. The follow- 
ing Buckfield men of Co. C were present : Capt. C. H. Prince, Abel Irish, 
A. F. Warren, J. H. Young, J. A. Warren and Gideon Fletcher. The vote 
in Sept. for representative to the legislature was as follows : Virgil P. 
DeCoster, Rep., 75; Augustus Kenney, Dem., 20; scattering, 3. In the 
district, Mr. DeCoster had nearly 4C0 plurality. — Stephen Winslow died 
Feb. 21, aged 70. He was never married. — Mrs. Varanes DeCoster died 
Feb. 24, aged 84. — Demeric Swan died May 6th in his 87th year. — Dr. 
John F. DeCoster died at Rum ford Falls, June 3d, aged 39. His remains 
were brought to Buckfield for burial. — Lysander Lowe died July 17, in his 
86th year. — Xov. 22, Calvin B. Keen died, aged 88. — Dec. 19, Nathan 
Maxim died, aged 87. 

During Secretary Long's summer visit to Buckfield this year an amus- 
ing incident occurred which Mr. George H. Bridgham, grandson of Dr. 
William Bridgham, related in verse thus : 

"My mother has a mania, but it's not for making pies, 
'Tis simply spreading tanglefoot, to bother all the flies; 
But I think my mother must have been a little in the wrong. 
When she spread her sheets of tanglefoot for Secretary Long. 
And all she'll say about it, now the summer's gone, is that 
She didn't catch the Secretary, but only 'tw"as his hat ; 
But I guess the Secretar}- will open wide his eyes 
When again the house he enters, when mother's catching flies." 

1899. 

The town meeting this \ear was very exciting. Several of the candi- 
dates were not selected until a number of ballots had been taken. — Henry 
Parsons and O. Greenleaf Turner were chosen road commissioners. — It 
was voted not to elect a superintendent of schools. This action left it for 
the school committee to select the superintendent. It was voted to build 
one new school house. — Hon. O. H. Hersey entered into a law- partnership 
with Judge Enoch Foster and moved to Portland. — Fred R. Dyer of Can- 
ton opened a law office here this year. — Died Jan. 8, John Buck, grandson 
of Nathaniel, one of the pioneer settlers of the town, aged 82 years, 7 
months. — The prevailing disease, called "the grip," raged quite extensively 
this year. — Deacon .\lfred Shaw died May 17, aged 70 years. — Hiram 



464 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Staples died July 25. aged 85 years. — Mrs. Louisa Benson, the oldest per- 
son in town, died Aug. 15, aged 93 years and 7 montlis. — Aratus Farrar 
died in October, at the age of 87. — George R. Coyle, landlord of the Hotel 
Long, died suddenly from apoplexy Xov. 12, aged 59. He was a veteran 
of theW'ar of the Rebellion. He was a native of Aroostook and had lived 
in Buckfield jo years. His remains were taken to Auburn for burial. — A 
new brush facton. was built by C. W ithington &: Sons tliis year. — Dr. F. T. 
Bonney, formerly of Buckfield, the only son of Hon. Albion P. Bonney, 
died at Auburn, Dec. 10, aged 40 years. 

1900. 
The year came in with a snow storm as it did in 1899. The water m 
tlie. streams was so low in the month of Tanuarj- as to seriously attect the 
running of the mills and factories. In April there was quite a freshet and 
intervales were overflowed. — The Oxford county teachers' association held 
its annual meeting at Buckfield on the 18th and 19th of May. There were 
about 60 teachers in attendance. — On Memorial Day, John X. Irish, Esq., 
was the orator. Alfred Cole, Esq.. gave a detailed histor>- of those who 
went to the war from Buckfield. — The farm buildings of Cyrus Briggs at 
East Buckfield were destroyed by fire Sunday, July 29. Loss, Si,-:oo — no 
insurance. — The first obser\ance of "Old Home Week" in Buckfield, took 
place in Augtist. The services were held in the "Church on the Hill." 
Thos. S. Bridgham, Esq., presided. Hon. John D. Long, Sec. of the Xavy, 
gave an address. Mrs. Flora E. Barn.- sang a solo — an original poem by 
Mrs. Rebecca Hussey Merrifield of Franklin, Mass. Tliere were also 
short addresses given by Edward L. Parris of X'ew York City, Geo. D. 
Bisbee of Rumford Falls. C. F. Whitman of Xorway. Geo. M. Atwood 
of Paris, Dr. O. R. Hall. ArdeHa Prince, Mr. WiUiam C. Spaulding of 
Caribou and Hon. Solon Chase. — The post office contained the portraits of 
many of the oldest citizens of the town and several of the old pioneers, 
which Postmaster Alfred Cole had industrioitsly collected. It was one of 
the most interesting features of the occasion. Among the portraits were 
those of Jonathan Record, Benj. Spaulding, son of Benj., one of the first 
47 settlers, Josiah Parris and Jolm Loring. — Among the deaths this year, 
were those of Mrs. Man,- J. Record, widow of William Record. Feb. 23, 
at the age of 80. — Arabella, wife of Merritt Farrar, Esq., died in Feb. in 
her 75th year. — Reuben L. Farrar died March 27, aged 81. — Col. John E. 
Brvant died in March at his home in Mount Vernon, X. Y. — R. B. Waite 
died May 23, aged 81. — ^Joshua E. Whitman died June 7, in his 82d year. — 
George Long died in June, aged 68. — Robinson Dean died Xov. 18, aged 69. 
— Wilham H. Atwood died Dec. 12, aged 73 years, 11 months and 17 days. 
— Rev. HenrA- B. Smith, husband of Thirza (Andrews'* Smith of Lockport. 
X. Y., died, aged 52 years 6 mos. — Capt. Chas. H. Prince was nominated 
and elected one of the senators from this county. — For president this year 
the vote was: "Rep. Ticket," 127; "Dem. Ticket," 103; "Pro. Ticket," 7; 
"Soc. Ticket," i. — The Atwoods of Buckfield and Livermore and their 
connections held a reunion at the Canton fair in September. — At a special 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 465 

town meeting held Oct. 3d, the sum of $500 was voted for laying the 
foundation for a new librar>- building which Hon. John D. Long proposed 
to erect on the site of the old Capt. Josiah Parris house, and donate to the 
town, to be known as the Zadoc and Julia T. Long Free Library, in honor 
of his father and mother. The building, an artistic structure, was erected 
during the year and fully completed and opened to the public the following 
vear. 



466 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

XoRTH BuCKFIELD. 

The village of Xorth Biickfield is pleasantly situated on the 
West Branch of the Twenty ]Mile or Nezinscot river, about a 
mile from the Sumner town line. It has a very good water 
power, sufficient at all seasons to run the mills there which have 
existed since the early settlement of the town. Probably one 
or more stores has been kept in the place from very early times. 

The village toda}' has besides the mills, store and post office, 
some twenty or more dwelling 'houses, including those situated 
in the close vicinity and naturally connected with the place. 

The people are thrifty, industrious and moral and worthy 
citizens of the town in which they live. 

The first settler in the vicinity was John Warren, son of 
Tristram Warren, who came liere from I>er\\ick in 1779 or 1780, 
and obtained a settling lot. He was a young, unmarried man 
at that time, but in 1781 he married F.lizabefh, daughter of 
Abijah Buck — the first marriage in the township, as elsewhere 
related. His father, some years after, settled in the vicinity, but 
not before Jan. i. 1784, as he obtained no settling lot. It is 
said by John \\'arren's descendants that he built the first mill 
at what is now the little village of Xorth Buckfield. 

In 1782, came to the township Dominicus Record from 
Easton, J\Iass., a millman and foundryman. He selected first 
a lot near John Warren's, which included a part, at least, of 
the falls on the river, and no doubt with the view of utilizing the 
water power, but considering it better in a business point of 
view, to form a partnership or business connection with Edmund 
Chandler, who had already built a mill two miles farther down 
the river at what is now Buckfield village, he exchanged his lot 
with Benjamin Spaulding and located there. Record's connec- 
tion with the Warrens was very close, for he afterwards married 
for his second wife Jane Warren, a sister of John. 

Benjamin Spaulding, besides the water privilege acquired from 
Dominicus Record, obtained John Warren's interest if he had 
anv, enlarged or built new, arid so much 1-)usiness was done in 
after years there that the place came to be known as "Spaulding's 
Mills." This included not only a saw and grist mill, but a store. 



HISTORY OF BULK FIELD 457 

blacksmith shop, etc.,— in fact a place of some considerable 
business. It is doubtful whether Benjamin Spaulding himself 
ever run the mills or eng-aged personally in trade. There is no 
mention or indication of it. in the account given by Parson 
Coffin in his journal of his missionary visits to the town about 
1800. Mr. Spaulding died in 1811. Who carried on the milling 
business after his death does not appear, but the little village 
continued to be called "Spaulding's Mills" for over 40 vears 
afterwards. For a ])eriod, however, it was known (|uite gen- 
erally as "Hale's Mills," but in later times, this was changed 
to North Buckfield, a name it is likely to permanently retain. 

A'ery early in the last century Larnard Swallow, a blacksmith 
by trade, settled in the little village. He was an active and 
capable man of much business ability, and for many years was 
interested in politics and was the most prominent citizen of that 
part of the town, and the local leader there of his party. 

In 1864 ]\Ir. Appleton F. Mason engaged in trade there, a 
business he conducted for over fifty years. He has been post- 
master since 1875, and for many years he has been the most 
l^rominent citizen of that locality. Mr. Mason has recently 
( 1915) deceased, respected by all who knew him. 

In 1841 William Swett auvl Charles F. Davis by act of the 
Legislature, obtained authority to erect powder mills on "Basin 
Falls." Soon afterwards a gunpowder factory was built there. 
In 1845, according to the Paris town history, Jarvis C. ]\Iarble 
of Paris Hill purchased this factory of Lorenzo Swett. It 
appears from the same authority that ^Ir. Marble "about 1847" 
bought of Amory H. Allen the powder mills at North Ihickfield. 
A\'hether Air. Allen built them or acquirer! this property by pur- 
chase does not appear, but Mr. Marble liaving come into pos- 
session, the plant at "Basin Falls" went into decay and the busi- 
ness was all transacted at North Buckfield. Mr. Marble later 
formed a partnership with Mr. A. P. Waterhouse and an exten- 
sive business for several years was transacted by the firm, and 
other mills were later obtained or built elsewhere — notably at 
Windsor, Canada, where employees from Buckfield went. 

The powder mills here blew up several times and in one 
explosion Qiarles Bicknell, son of Otis, was killed. Mr. Marble 
sold out his interest in jwwder mills in 1878, and the business 



468 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

at North iKicktield having" been transferred to the \\'inclsor 
plant, the factory went into decay. 

The little village of Xorth Buckfield has from the beginning 
been a place of considerable business for a small country village. 
It accommodates the people of that section of the town and a 
part of Sumner. Here, besides its mills, store, post office, black- 
smith shop and schoolhouse, is located a flourishing- grange, 
where the farmers and their wives and children regularly meet 
in a comfortable and spacious hall, and in addition to the social 
gatherings so beneficial to all, religious services and other gath- 
erings are frequently held. In no part of the town are ihe 
pleasures and benefits of life more to be enjoyed. 

One who has ever dwelt in this little village or vicinity and 
gone away to other scenes, nnay well recall with pleasure the 
events of other days and say with Goldsmith: 

"Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease, 
Seats of my youth, when every sport could please; 
How often have I loitered o'er thy green. 
Where humble happiness endeared each scene ! 
How often have I paused on every charm ; 
The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm ; 
The never-failing brook, the busy mill. 
The old white church that topped the distant hill." 



HISTORY OF Bl'CKFIELD 



4«9 



Part II. 



ZADOC LONG'S JOURNAL. 



\ 




Hon. Zadoc Long 

Extracts from Diary of Zadoc Long which he kept for 50 years. These 
extracts are but a very small part, but enough to give an impression of the 
local village life : 

I was l)orn on the 28th day of July, 1800. at Middleboro, Plymouth 
County. Mass. The earliest tiling 1 can remember was my father's return 
from a military muster in the costume of a conunissioned officer with 



470 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

cocked hat and coat faced with white. The next I recall was the birth of 
my brother Miles in 1804. ^ly father moved from Middleboro to Buck- 
field in 1806, and bought the Daniel Howard farm on North Hill. The 
first time I came to the village there were but two two-story houses here — 
Mr. Benjamin Spaulding's and the one in which I now live. There was 
no church here. I worked on a farm till I was 14 years old. ^ly father 
carried on his farm and his trade of a shoemaker at the same time. In 
1815 I commenced the study of English and Latin grainmar. In the 
autumn of 1816 I attended the academy at Hebron and boarded a mile 
away at Mr. Barney !Myrick's, where I could pay in shoemaking at |i.oo 
per week. This I think was the last bill my father ever paid for me. 

April 13 — Bought a stand for trade jointly with Capt. Tames Jewett 
— the new store on the north side of the river and east of the bridge — 3 
stories high on the water side — the largest and most convenient store 
for business in village — together with a building and apparatus for mak- 
ing potash. 

18J4. 

Sept. I — I was married to Julia T. Davis of Xew Gloucester and com- 
menced keeping house. Lucius Loring, who has married my sister Sally, 
and I, hired a house called the "Foster House." He will occupy one 
part and I the other. 

Oct. 24 — A pleasant young gentleman by the name of Henn,- W hite is 
boarding with us. He has lately commenced preaching the gospel and is 
engaged for a short time in the village. 

1826. 

July 30 — The first meeting of the members of the Bible class in Buck- 
field holden at Mr. Chase's Meeting House so called. The question writ- 
ten upon w as : "How extensive is the knowledge of God." 

The undersigned feeling persuaded that Capt. is injuring 

his health, his reputation, his property and the peace of his family, by 
an increasing habit of intemperance, and believing that, as he is not 
accustomed to the use of ardent spirits in his own house, it might prove 
a preventive of this evil for him to be denied it at the stores, by the glass, 
and feeling very solicitous to sa\e a man from destruction, who but for 
this, would be one of our most respectable and useful citizens, hereby 
engage ourselves to let him have no more rum to be drank in our stores. 

Buckfield. Dec. j. 1826. 

Z.\Doc Loxc. 
Lvcius LoRixc. 
Enoch Crocker 
Xath.\x Atwoop 
Spavldixg RoBixsox 

The above accompanied by a letter to Mr. P. expressing the kindest 
wishes for his welfare. 



I 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIKLD 471 

i8_v. 

Apr.25 — The greatest freshet remembered liere. It %sas caused by 
24 hours only of rain. 

May 24 — Purchased a chaise of Mr. Babcock, Portland, for which I 
gave him $185. 

June 21 — This day was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the 
County of Oxford. 

July 24 — Purchased a black horse of Hosea Benson, Canton, for $135 
cash. 

1829.. 

Mar. 9 — Snow 4 feet deep on a level. Sam H. Blake teaching the 
school and boarding at my house. 

Aug. 17 — Drouth continues. Corn is so much injured that it is thought 
there will be but half a crop. Potatoes nearly ruined.. Business dull in 
conssqucnce of the extreme scarcity of money. Xo sale for stock yet 
which is all that can be relied upon for a general circulation of cash here 
and wc have no prospect of better times this season. 

Oct. — Started from Buckfield Sat. morning and the Mon. following 
was in old Plymouth, Mass., a distance of 215 miles. Went to see Bro. 
Thomas, who had been for 40 mos. on the U. S. Frigate Brandywine on 
the Pacific coast of So. America. Had not seen him for 6 years. He had 
a roving disposition. His life on a man of war has improved him. 

Autumn — The portraits of myself and wife painted by G. U. Apple- 
ton. My age 29, my wife's 22. 

Dec. — It is nearly 2 years since I sold any spiritous liquor^ in my 
store, and though the profits of my business have been consequently less 
my satisfaction has been much greater. Did not feel justified in selling 
that to my neighbors which I knew to be for their injury. About the 
time a Temperance Association was formed in this vicinity I quit retail- 
ing ardent spirits.. (These are words that deserve to shine in letters of 
gold. Authors.) 

1830. 

Jan. 17 — The weather has been remarkably moderate thi> winter so 
far. There has been but little snow. We have had one week of 
sleighing. 

183 1. 

Feb. 1 — There has been no sleighing yet this winter. To-day it snows. 

Feb. 6 — Snow enough and the sleigh-bells begin to be heard on the 
streets. 

Mar. 15 — Sold my goods and rented my store to Samuel \\ . Ingalls 
and E. Taylor for 2 years at $24 per year. 

Apr. I — There has been a big freshet here the past week. Damage 
$2500 at least, Lucius Loring's share is not less than $1000, Buck's & 
Gray's $1000. The east part of the upper dam was broken away by the 
ice and the main current of the river let into the road at the east of 
Buck's wagon shops, surrounding them. Gray's black-mitli shop and 



472 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Loring's potash being in water in such a manner that no one could get 
to them to remove anything. The buildings were undermined and what- 
ever was in or about them washed away, leaving but a wreck behind. 
Notes and accounts to the amount of about $1500 belonging to Buck and 
Gray were lost. A shoe shop and a part of a shed attached to Crocker's 
store went down stream and were destroyed. It will be $100 damage to 
the roads. 

Nov. 2^ — We have just returned from Sunday School. My wife and 
I have a class. The interest of the school is enlivened by our infant 
Library. There are some favorable symptoms for Buckfield — wicked, 
God-forsaken place as it has been called — our new meeting-house with 
its heaven pointing spire for one. We intend to have a bell if the pur- 
chase money can be raised by subscription. 

1832. 

Jan. 2 — Winter set in the last of Nov. with sufficient snow for sleigh- 
ing and it has been the most severe and steady cold weather for the time 
of year that the oldest men among us can remember. Commenced 
business in the store of Lucius Loring, Aug. ist last, and have made a 
greater amount of sales than ever before in the same lengtli of time. 
Business of everv kind has been better during the past year than I ever 
knew it to be. 

Mar. 28 — There have now been 125 da\s of sleighing. It has been 
the longest and coldest winter ever known in this country. 

Mar. — Rev. Seth Stetson made some remarks a few days since upon 
the subject of intemperance and especially about retailers, which liaAe 
kindled a war against him, that promises not soon to stibside — — in 
particular has taken it in high dudgeon and swears that he will no longer 
hear him preach or assist in his support and all this for what? Why be- 
cause our minister had conscience and independence enough to admonish 
the people of the evils resulting from the practice of ardent spirits — for 
preaching morality. What a queer thing it would be I am thinking if 
the people of Buckfield drive away a I'liiz-crsalist minister for preaching 
temperance. Smith, the hatter from Portland, died last night at Young's 
Tavern. His death was no doubt occasioned by intemperance. It is 
sickly in this vicinity. Influenza prevalent. There have been 5 deaths in 
this village this winter — 2 infants, Mrs. Cole, wife of Sampson Cole, 
Mrs. Parris, wife of Josiah Parris and Rev. Seth Stetson's daughter, 
Emily. 

Apr. 18 — There are now 5 stores with large stocks of goods for the 
country in operation here. Long & Loring, Luther Crocker, Ephraim At- 
wood & Co., Nathan Atwood, Samuel Ingalls & Co. The latter firm oc- 
cupy the store belonging to me where I formerly traded. 

June 6 — Meeting house in this village C'church on the hill") dedicated. 
Dedication sermon by Rev. Seth Stetson. 

June 10 — It has been cold and cloudy nearly 4 weeks. Farmers are 
almost discouraged. Much of the corn and potatoes have rotted. There 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 473 

is very little prospect of a corn crcip this year. It has hccn so damp 
and cold that I have kept a fire in tiie store every day for a month. 

June 1 7 — Attended Sabbath School this morninji. There are now 
about 40 attendants. Have raised a sufficient sum by subscription to 
double the number of books in the school library. Much good may be 
expected from it, though far from i)opular with tlie majority of the 
town's people. 

June 28 — The Universalists have their annual convention here today 

July 20 — The season is several weeks later than usual. 

Sept. 12 — The corn on low lands killed by frost. 

Oct. 22 — It has been a very cold and unfavorable sea:-on for vegeta- 
tion. So little corn has not l)een raised for many years. It is now sell- 
ing for 6 shillings per bushel. 

Dec. 16 — Mr. Bates, a Universalist minister, preached at Union 
Chapel. A great majority of the owners of the meeting house are pro- 
fessed Universalists. Rev. Seth Stetson who has preached in this place 
once or twice a month for the past 2 years was formerly an Orthodox 
preacher. He is now a believer in universal restoration. I am not 
acquainted with a more exemplary man. 

Dec. 2^ — Christmas. Six years ago to-day was the first meeting of 
the Temperance Association in this village at which an address was deliv- 
ered by Stephen Emer\-, Esq. Since that time I have not tratficked in 
ardent spirits. 

Sunday, Dec. 29 — Rev. Mr. liryant, a Methodist, preached at the 
school house to-day. 

1833. 

Jan. 24 — About one o'clock we awoke and found the whole village in 
an uproar. It was dark and misty — not a breath of wind. A broad red 
glare lit up the sky. Thought at first it was .\twood's store on fire. 
Soon ascertained that it was the grist mill. If any wind had been blow- 
ing nothing could have prevented the saw mill and probably Atwood's 
store from burning. The flames kindled in 20 places and burned the 
outside next to the grist mill to a coal.. Mr. Ileald's loss is probably 
$1300. Nathan Atwood's whose carding machinery was burned, $600. A. 
B. Morrill's blacksmith shop was in that part of the building, where the 
fire commenced. Many persons had admonished Mr. Heald of the im- 
prudence of having this shop in the building. 

Mar. 3 — Since March came in, we have had some of the worst freez- 
ing and blustering weather of the winter. 

Mar. 12 — I expected to sell my store to-day to Mr. C"ole of Livermore, 
but he seems inclined not to take it. I have offered him my house, store 
and whole concern for $1600. He talks of buying Dr. Bridgham's house 
and store at $1350. The term for which Ingalls & Taylor hired the store 
expired to-day. Just sold my store for $400 to Nathan Morrill and Arte- 
mas F. Cole. 

Mar. 13 — The rain which continued nearly all night is changed into 
a snowstorm and tin- wind is i)iping louder and louder from the north. 



474 HISTORY OF RTJCKFIELD 

Hurrah for another blockade. Bkie devils are flapping their dull wings 
about. This weather's propitious for hatching 'em out. Continua'i 
snowing and blowing and blasting and vapors and darkness and storms 
everlasting. 

Mar. 17, Sunday — Mr. Stetson preached to-day at Union Chapel. He 
talks about moving away in the spring and we are in the way of having 
no preaching of any kind in this town. For vindicating the cause of 
Temperance, he lost the friendship and support of those who were most 
instrumental in procuring him to preach here for which reason mainly 
he will remove. 

Mar. ig — Have nearly sold my house from over my head to-day to \'. 
D. Parris, Esq., who is about being married to Miss Columbia Rawson 
of Paris possessing $8000 in addition to her other attractions. He has 
the refusal of it at $1200. 

Apr. 9 — Mr. Samuel Hutchinson, a very amiable young man. in at- 
tempting to pass a bridge without any railing on horseback, over what is 
called the "Roundabout," while the water was running over it, was 
washed off by the current and drowned. His body was found after lying 
in the water 8 or 9 hours. Left an affectionate wife, who mourned him 
bitterly. 

Apr. 14 — Mr. Chase, the first man I ever heard preach in Buckfield, 
holds forth to-day at Union Chapel. (This was Elder Xath'l Chase). 

Apr. 22 — Rev. Mr. Bates, a Universalist preacher, lectured this even- 
ing at Union Chapel on the subject of Temperance. 

Apr. 25 — Dr. Comstock dined with us to-day. 

May 5 — Rev. Mr. Stoddard, Universalist, preached at Union Chapel. 
Buckfield Sabbath School Society held its annual meeting at 3 o'clock. 

Alay 26 — The season forward. Trees have been several days in bloom. 
Grass knee high in my front yard. Lilacs blossomed for the first time 
since I planted them. 

Sunday, July 14 — Just returned from Sabbath School. Have charge 
of a class. Mr. Chase preached to-day. 

Oct. 6 — Sunday School closed to-day for the season. Mr. Brown and 
myself have been the only teachers. Have been absent but 2 Sabbaths 
during the summer. 

1834- 

Jan. 2T, — About 8 o'clock this morning Mr. Jewett's cabinet shop was 
discovered to be on fire. It burned to the ground in a few minutes. 
Other buildings in great danger were saved. 

Feb. 26 — We had a temperance meeting here to-day and an address. 

Apr. 26 — At 8 o'clock evening my wife presented us her first boy. 

May 15 — To-day it snows fast. The ground is covered and sleighs 
are out. 

June 2^ — Our store was broken into last night and about $200 worth 
of silk goods stolen. 

Aug. 26 — One William Dyer had his trial this week at Topsham for 
lireaking a store. We attended and found about $15 worth of our goods 
which were taken from our store June 23d. 



HISTORY OK BUCKFIELD 475 

1835. 

Jan. 7 — We sent five tons of dried apples to Portland to-day. Tiiey 
sold for 45/2 cts. per lb. 

Aug. 26 — Bought what is called the old Record homestead in Buck- 
field Village with 9 acres of good land for $1000.. 

Sept. 8 — Sold the situation where I have lived for 9 years to All)ert D. 
White for $ioco. 

Nov. 19 — The sound of the explosion at the Gorham Powder Mills, 50 
miles away, was heard and the smoke seen in this town. One man killed. 
Never knew money so plenteous and business of every kind so good as 
during the last six months. There has been a high price paid for every- 
thing the farmer has had to sell. 50 cts. for wool, average quality. 20 
cts. per lb. for butter, $1.00 for corn, 8 s. for wheat, 67 cts. for oats, $2 
for beans, $10 for ha}'. Goods have been sold at advanced prices and the 
demand for them was never greater. The prices of labor of every kind 
has been very high. Fine times. Sold the orchard near the school house 
to John Taylor for $150. 

Nov. 22, — Cold snow storm. Up to this it has been one of the most 
delightful autumns ever known. 

Nov. 29, Sunday — Preaching in the Village by Elder Starr of New 
Gloucester. 

Dec. 2 — Obtained $200 by subscription for a bell for Union Chapel. 

Dec. 6, Sunday — Elder Starr preached in the village again to-day. 

Dec. 19 — Hay very scarce. Stock almost to be given away in con- 
sequence. 

1836. 

Jan. 6 — Erysipelas prevails in this vicinity. Three out of one family 
have died within a few days. Have just heard of the death of Jonathan 
Buck's wife. 

Jan. 13 — Bought meadow hay of James Jewett at $10 per tun. Wood 
at 154 dollars per cord, not so plenteous as usual. 

Jan. 18 — Widow Jane Record the oldest person in the village is sick 
and not expected to live many days. 

Jan. 19 — Money circulates less freely. Hay sold in tlie village to-day 
for $15 per ton. Best flour $9 per bbl. in Portland. 

Jan. 24, Sunday— Rev. Mr. Pennell preached here to a large audience. 

Jan. 25 — Mr. Pennell plays psalmodj^ sweetly on a flute. With that 
and a violin we have been whiling away the time pleasantly during the 
storm. 

Jan. 27 — Session of the court was to have commenced at Paris yes- 
terday but the Judge had not arrived this morning by reason of the 
storm. 

Feb. I — Mr. Pennell held a meeting in the evening at Sqiiire Brown's 
to discourse about missionary objects according to the custom on the 
1st Mon. in Feb. 

Feb. 8 — Another tremendous snow storm. The snow is up to the win- 
dow stools on a level. 



476 HISTORY OF BCCKFJELD 

Feb. 13 — Xo regularity to the mails is expected. Mrs. Jenkins, aged 
8s, died in the village to-day. 

Feb. 16 — Hay $20 a ton and scarce at that. Ephraim Hathaway, a 
pensioner, died yesterday. 

Feb. 20 — Lewis Record nearly killed yesterday by the falling of a tree. 

Feb. 29 — Mr. Pennell left, having preached in the village 6 Sabbaths. 

Mar. 2 — Said to be the coldest winter ever known. It has been ver>- 
sickly and the largest number of people have died that ever did in the 
same length of time since the town was settled. 

Mar. 19 — A'en,- cold. Snow nearly 4 feet deep. The stage-driver is 
this moment passing by with ear locks and whiskers as white by the 
frost as a powdered wig. 

Mar. 25 — Marshall and Hiram Andrews have been on trial before me 
two days on complaint for passing counterfeit money. Court at the town 
house. Mr. Brown and Carter, counsel for the state. Mr. Emer\- for 
defendants. 500 people present. They were bound over to the Supreme 
Court May Term in the sum of S500. The counterfeit was on Ivendus- 
keag Bank, Bangor. 

Mar. 2J. Sunday — Mr. Libby, a blind man, preaches here to-day. He 
never could see or read, yet knows much of books. Repeats hymns for 
singing his text and the context with perfect accuracy. Uses very chaste 
language grammatically and is a ver\- tolerable sermonizer. 

Apr. 15 — Two citizens are quarreling within a few rods of the house 
about a land line. One threatens to brain the other with an ax and 
strikes a slight blow upon his leg. The ax is taken from him. He then 
strikes with his fists. The other returns the blow and knocks him down. 
A sickening spectacle. The one knocked down is nearly 60 years old 
and is a sworn Justice of the Quonim and bound to keep the peace and 
maintain the laws. 

Apr. 24. Sunday — Rev. Mr. Caldwell. Methodist, preaches in the vil- 
lage. 

June 5 — Sunday School commenced. 

June 27 — Circus here. Ver\- warm. Corn backward. 

June 29 — Refreshing shower about sunrise attended by sharp light- 
ning and thunder. 

July 3 — Preparations making for celebrating the anniversary of our 
Xational Independence to-morrow. \'. D. Parris delivers an oration at 
Union Chapel. 

Aug. 2 — Warm, drj- weather, fields parched, grass withered, com on 
low grounds killed by frost. The streams almost dried up. A good crop 
of hay, rye, wheat and oats. Ver^- little sound com will be raised. Po- 
tatoes small by reason of the drouth. 

Sept. 8 — Ever>- vegetable kind killed by the frost. Business dull. 
Money scarce. Com is sold for 8 s. 6 d. per bushel. The poor suffer, 
the rich groan and hug their treasures closer. 

Sept. II — Elder Houghton preached to-day. 

Sept. 25 — Xo preaching in the village. Gave 9 shillings last week for 
a bushel of com. Flour Sio per bbl. Wheat 11 shillings per bushel, 
Butter 20 cts. per lb. and scarce at that. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJPXD 477 

Nov. 3 — Sold the Potash and appurtenances which I owned witli 
Lucius Loring to Daniel Young and Stephen D. Hutchinson for $212. 

Xov. 6, Sunday — Xo meeting. People in the place getting to be very 
indifferent about preaching. 

Xov. 13 — Rev. Mr. Johnson, Baptist, preached at Union Chapel. 

Xov. 19 — Mr. Jewett very sick. Xews from Penn. All is lost for the 

Whigs. 

Dec. 13 — Moved into our new house (now Hotel Long). 

Dec. 21 — Violent rain storm. Snow all carried away. 

Dec. 23 — Hard times for men in business. Money in our cities worth 
24 per cent, per annum — best security- — Provisions high. 

Dec. 25 — Christmas — snow storm — no meeting. Dull — dull out and 
in — neither wheeling nor sleighing. 

1837- 

Tan. 3 — Storm over, one of coldest ever known — having continued 
48 hours. Snow 2^2 feet deep on a level. Very cold. Xo living creature 
seen out. People tremble that have no wood. 

Jan. 12 — First arrival of the stage from Portland since the storm. 

Jan. 15, Sunday — Xo meeting as usual. 

Jan. 24 — Shoveling snow between our house and Brown's. The snow 
is higher than our heads on each side of the path. 

Jan. 2^ — In the evening was a wonderful appearance in the heavens — 
a blood red light in form of an arch extending from east to west — most 
brilliant directly overhead, making objects far and near as distinctly vis- 
ible as by full moonlight and giving the snow a crimson hue, as if it 
had been showered with blood. Continued an hour or more unabated. 
Commenced soon after sunset. Brightest about 7 o'clock 

Jan. 29, Sunda}" — Rev. Mr. Jordan preached at the school house. A 
full meeting. A prayer meeting in the evening at Rodney Chaffin's. 

Feb. I — Singing school commenced. 

Mar. 22 — Henr}- H. Hutchinson, Jr., tried before me for flogging El- 
bridge Bridgham and acquitted. 

Apr. 25 — Hard times. Merchants in our cities, failing. 

May 7 — Sunday. Xo meeting. Everybody stupid about preaching. 

May 8 — Cold, cold, cold. Ground froze last night. It is a time of 
unexampled distress among merchants and will be among farmers if such 
weather continues. Monstrous scarcity of money in proportion to the 
business throughout the country-. An immense and inevitable fall in 
prices of merchandize, stocks, lands and labor. Thousands thrown out of 
employment. The general distress produced by derangement of the cur- 
rency through unwise intermeddling of Government by overdoing busi- 
ness on a system of credit by extravagant importations as well as home 
manufactures by land speculation and a variety of causes. The depres- 
sion has come upon us suddenly and severely and a vast many who 
thought themselves rich a few^ months ago are ruined. 

May 10 — Canker rash prevailing in the village. Have just heard of 
the death of Mr. Bean's child bv this disease. 



478 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

May 14, Sunday— Pleasant. Rev. Mr. Houghton preached at Union 
Chapel. 

May jj — Bread stuff scarce and high. Wheat, $2 r>e and corn 9 
shillings per bushel, potatoes 2 shillings, beans 15 shillings. 

Tune I — Fine growing weather. My com and cucumbers peeping out 
of the ground. 

June 25, Sunday — Meeting at the Poor House. 

July 9, Sunday — Rev. Mr. Millner preached at the Chapel. 

Aug. 2 — People generally just begun haying. Wheat everywhere 
well grown, forward and abundant. There is an enormous extent of 
ground in this state. It is said that a destructive little insect called the 
weevil is doing great damage to the crop. Some fields nearly ruined. 

Aug. II — Clear and cold. Fears of a frost. The few last years, win- 
ter and summer, have been colder than formerly owing as is thought 
to spots on the sun which are seen at this time of large size. 

1S3S. 

Jan. 7 — Pleasant and sunny weather. Xo snow. More agreeable 
weather never known at this season of the year. 

Jan. 14 — Mr. Chase preached at the school house. 

Jan. 15 — Summer weather. Xo snow on the ground. Such a mild, 
broken winter never known in this country. 

Feb. 3 — Paschal Barrelle, the singing master, boarding with us two 
days. 

Mar. S — A tremendous excitement is produced all over the countn,- by 
Jonathan Cilley's death in a duel. 

Mar. 14 — \\ arm — snow running off. The winter has been short and 
pleasant. 

Mar. iS — Mr. Stetson has appointed a meeting at Union Chapel. 
There seems to be a religious awakening in several places among Uni- 
versalists- 

Mar. 23 — People in the State are excited over the nonheastem bound- 
ary matter. 

Mar. jS — Zadoc Long unanimously nominated (.by the Whigs) as 
candidate for Representative in Congress to fill the vacancy, occasioned 
by the death of Hon. Timothy J. Carter. 

Apr. IJ— Appollos Osgood and daughter, Eliza, called on us this 
afternoon. Eliza is a fine singer and delighted us with several selections. 

Apr. iS — Virgil D. Parris nominated for Congress by the Jackson con- 
vention to-day. 60 delegates present. Buckfield has the honor of fur- 
nishing the candidates for both parties. 

May 6 — Freshet. Part of upper dam undermined and the water nm- 
ning down the road east of the buildings on the river. 

May 22 — Elder Houghton. Baptist minister of Turner, died. \". D. 
Parris started for Congress. 

May 30 — Mrs. V. D. Parris supposed to have the small pox. The vil- 
lage somewhat alarmed. 



HISTORY OF BUCKPTELD 479 

June 4 — Some of the stores sluit up on account of llic small i)ox and 
several families have moved out of the viliase. Tiie citizens held a meet- 
ing and adopted measures to prevent the spread of the disease. It was 
resolved that the selectment remove V. D. Parris' family to a house out- 
side the village, as soon as in the opinion of a competent physician it 
could he done without endangering life. The family removed in the aft- 
ernoon. The alarm in and out of the village is very great. Very few 
people dart to come here for l)u>iness. The disease was brought into the 
place by Mr. Parris on his return from Augusta where he had been con- 
fined for a time from contact with other people. 

June 30 — Cut down the old apple tree which has stood near the piazza 
for 40 years. 

July 4 — Just heard of a distressing accident that hapi)ened yesterday 
to an old acquaintance, Andrew Cushman. He was thrown from his 
wagon by reason of a break in the harness and his leg broken so badly 
that his life is in danger. 

July 6 — Caravan here. Hannaii, dauglitcr of Doniinicus Record, died 
of inflamation of the bowels. 

July 8, Sunday — Fine weather. Rode to Hebron Academy. Attended 
meeting all day. Elder Tripp, T] years old, preached. He said: "40 
years ago to-day I preached my first sermon here as your minister." A 
fine band of singers from Paris Cape there. 

July 12— Mr. Parris arrived from Washington amid the roar of a 
little swivel called "Jackson's Pocket Piece." 

July 16 — It has been the warmest season thus far, known for many 
years. Grass abundant. 

July 26 — -Judge Samuel Parris, 83 years old, from Washington called 
to see us. He travelled 500 miles in 40 hours. Daniel Young we hear 
was rolibed while crossing a bridge near Portland 2 nights ago. He was 
knocked on the head, rifled of $600 and tiirc^wn into the water. Many 
suspect he robbed himself. 

July 28 — Mr. Butler, a young minister of the gospel, called this after- 
noon, proposing to preach in this place a few Sabbaths. 

July 29, Sunday — Mr. Butler preached at Union Chapel. 
Aug. 3 — Best of weather. Picked off ears of corn, full in the milk 
to-day. Politics runs high. 

Aug. 5, Sunday — Mr. Seth Stetson preached 2 fine sermons at Union 
Chapel. Sabbath School at 5 p.m. 

Aug. II — S. F. Brown removed from the Post Olfice and William 
Bridgham appointed in his stead. 

Aug. 12, Sunday — Mr. Butler preached 3 sermons. 

Aug. 19, Sunday — Mr. Chase preached here to-day. 

Aug. 2i — People reaping wheat which is abundant. More ground 
sown than ever before. The bounty given by the State $2 for every 20 
bushels raised has stimulated people to cultivate wheat. Corn generally 
out of the way of the frost. Growers receive by law $2 for every 30 
bushels of ears. 



4S0 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Aug. 26, Sunday — Mr. Chase preaches at Union Chapel. 

Sept. 2, Sunday — Mr. Thomes, a Universalist, preached at Union 
Chapel. 

Sept. 4 — Frost last night for first time this season. 

Sept. 12— Mr. Ripley's blacksmith shop and Mr. Robinson's wagon 
shop burned this morning about 4 o'clock. Loss about $6oo„ no insur- 
ance. Gathering my com. I shall have not less than 60 bushels on a 
little more than 1/2 acre of ground. 

Sept. 13 — Powerful rain which was much needed. The mail brings 
news of the defeat of the Whigs in the late election. Largest vote that 
was ever thrown in any state according to its population. 

Sept. 14 — The Jackson-Van Buren party had a celebration this after- 
noon of their late victory in the election. They had intended to fire loo 
guns, but before they had half done the swivel became so hot that the 
powder took fire while it was being loaded. Mr. Washington Heald's arm 
was torn in a shocking manner, so that he will probably lose it. An- 
otiicr man's thumb was broken and the eyes of still another badly injured. 

Sept. 16, Sunday — Mr. Thomes from Otisfield preaches at Union 
Chapel. 

Sept. 18 — Eclipse of the sun in the afternoon. 

Sept. 19 — Muster of the Regiment in Ximenes Philbrick's field '4 mile 
from here. 

Sept. 22 — The \"an Buren party have elected the Governor in this 
State by about 2500 majority. I have received (for Representative to 
Congress) some over 5000 votes in this Congressional District, 1400 more 
than last spring. Mr. Parris is elected. 

Sept. 29 — Finished digging potatoes — about 300 bushels on a ^4 of an 
acre of ground. Benjamin Merrill and Eben Hodge have dug to-day 
and put into the cellar 100 bushels — a great day's work. 

Oct. I— At the 2nd ballot to-day the 4th day of trial Daniel Chase was 
elected Representative to the Legislature from Buckfield by one majority 
in 303 votes. The choice was decided by the Whigs withdrawing from 
their candidate and supporting Chase. This election decides that there 
are a majority in town in favor of appropriating the surplus only for a 
farm for the poor. The other candidate being supported b}- the party 
that opposed the appropriation a year ago last spring. 

Oct. 2 — About midnight we were waked by the report of a building 
on fire at my father's. It turned out to be his bam burnt together with 
a shed, about 20 tons of hay ,his cow, and a valuable young horse. Loss 
not much short of $500. It is not known how the fire took. 

Oct. 3 — Money continues scarce. It is worth 12 per cent, with the 
best security. Cattle of every description very high. Oxen 6^ feet 
girth $100, middling milch cows $30, best lambs $2. Scarcely any beef in 
the country. 

Oct. g — Heavy frost. 

Oct. 15 — 2 meetings of Debating Society at Bridgham's Hall. 

Oct. 27 — At 2 o'clock this beautiful starlight morning we were blest 
with the birth of a second son (John D. Long). 



HISTORY OF BL'CKF'lELD 481 

Xov. 15— The Whigs have triumphed in the X. Y. election by 10,000 
majority. 

Dec. I — Warm and most delightful weather — no sleighing.. Prices a'. 
Buckfield : Beef from $6 to $8 per cwt. Mutton same. Shoats $8 to $10 
per cwt. Fresh Hams 121/2 cts. per bl. Salt Pork 14 cts. per lb. Hogs 
dressed 10 cts. per lb. Hay from $5 to $6 per ton. Wheat $.1.50 per 
bushel. Rye 6 shillings, com 6 shillings, beans 7 shillings 6 pence, peas 
5 shillings, oats 2 shillings per bushel, potatoes i shilling, butter 20 cts., 
cheese 10 cts., dried apples 4 cts., chickens 8 to 10, board in village 9 shill- 
ings to 12 shillings, girls' help from 4 shillings to 6 shillings, labor on a 
farm from $11 to $13 per mo., molasses 2 shillings 6 pence, tea 2 shillings, 
slieeting 9 cts.., flannel 3 shillings, full cloth 6 shillings cash. 

Dec. 3 — 3 trials before me this afternoon against persons for non- 
appearance at militia trainings. School commenced. 

Dec. 4 — A little after sunrise was startled by a cry of fire. A store 
near the bridge and joining Artemas Cole's store took fire in a roof 
by the funnel. The fire subdued by the activity of the citizens before the 
building was destroyed. Damages $75 perhaps. The citizens after fre- 
(juent and repeated warnings are striving to procure an engine. 

Dec. 8 — Reed the President's message 5 days from Washington. 

1839- 

Jan. 27 — We have had one of the greatest freshets known for many 
years. The blowing of the wind and the beating of the gale last night 
were fearful. The water is roaring majestically over the dams and sur- 
rounding many of the buildings near the river. The blocks of ice have 
knocked away the underpinning from one store and the posts from one 
end of the saw mill. The ground is nearly bare. 

Feb. I — Very fine weather. No sleighing. 

Feb. 20 — Prospect of a war on the disputed territory. Our land agent 
has been taken bj- a British armed force, while performing his duty in 
arresting trespassers on our timber lands on Aroostook River. 

Feb. 25 — Wars and rumors of war creating a great excitement. Some 
are sober, some are jolly, some frightened, some going out of the 
country to get clear of doing military duty and all classes making 
anxious inquiry of the progress of affairs on the frontier. 

Feb. 27 — Snow storm. The village crowded with people. A part of 
the Regiment met here to-day for a draft. — About 1-3 of the militia 
ordered to be in readiness. 

Mar. I — Sunny and warm. Sleighing destroyed. 

Mar. 3 — A deep snow came upon us like a thief in the nigh.t A win- 
ter day. Two-thirds of the militia lately drafted from llie Regiment or- 
dered to march next Wednesday. 

Mar. 4 — The militia meet here this morning for another draft. 

Mar. 5 — Four soldiers from Lovell staid with us last night. Drafted 
men coming to the village this morning on their way to Headquarters. 
Have sent my horse and sleigh as far as Augusta to help them on their 



482 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

way. About 3000 militia on the ground and on the march. Mr. Isaac 
Ellis takes another's place. 

Mar. 6 — The General Government has advised the State authorities to 
disband the militia. Our border trouble the all engrossing- subject of 
conversation. The President's message too pacific and tame to suit the 
excited feeling in Maine. There is some doubt whether the Government 
of this State v.'ill comply with the recommendations of the President. 

Mar. 8 — While I was posting books this morning I heard an outcry 
and looking out saw a shabby looking man on the bridge with a team 
and such a team. It was a curiosity. A sled loaded with boys drawn by 
a yoke of cows and a hog harnessed on forward which appeared as well 
broken to the business as a truck horse. The man halted on the bridge 
and began to preach in a loud voice, gesticulating with his goad stick 
in no slovenly style. Though his voice could be heard very far, I could 
not understand the thread of his discourse. A bull and calf followed 
the team. A multitude gathered round, intoxicated with the fun. He 
delivered a Temperance lecture for one cent a minute. 

Apr. 9 — The High School house raised on Dr. Comstock's land- 
Apr. 22 — Mr. Jewett entered into co-partnership with Long & Loring 
Sat. Increase Spaulding died this morning at his father's of consump- 
tion. 

Apr. 24 — Beautiful weather, martins arrived to-day — a week earlier 
than last year. Trees beginning to leave out and grass starting finely. 

May 2 — Transplanted 6 young rock maples into my yard at south end 
of the house. 

Ma}' II — Mr. Woodman arrived to commence the high school next 
Monday. The new building nearly completed. 

June 5 — Cyrus, son of Nathaniel Shaw, died. 

June 22, — Went with Julia and Janet Loring to the Federal School 
house. Heard Mr. Hersey preach. 

June 30 — Mr. Woodman, an old-fashioned, fine hearted old Christian 
from New Gloucester preaches at Union Chapel. He is a believer in the 
unity of God and the final salvation of all men.. 

July 4 — Powerful showers last night with lightning and thunder. No 
celebration in this place. Mr. V. D. Parris hurt by a ball while playing 
nine pins. Showers in the afternoon. 

July 7 — Bates, Universalist preacher, at Union Chapel, full house. 

July 15 — Cloudy, wet and mudd.y The oldest man never knew so 
much wet. My clover field rotting. We have not had a day of hay 
weather yet. 

July 16 — Daniel Young died this afternoon of consumption. 

July 17 — Beautiful weather. Begun haying. 

July 20 — Circus here. Great numbers attend. 

July 28 — Mr. Pearl preaches at Union Chapel. Mr. P. is a teacher 
and lecturer in Gorham Institute. A man of small stature but very enter- 
prising and energetic. He is engaged to deliver a course of 4 lectures 
here beginning this evening on education. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 483 

Aug. 2^ — A laymen's meeting at Union Chapel. 

Sept. I, Sunday — Beautiful morning after the storm. Mr. Thomes 
preached at Union Chapel. 

Sept. 4 — The Universalists have an association meeting here to-day 
and to-morrow. 

Sept. 20 — There will he ver\- few apples this year. I shall not have 
more than 50 bushels on 300 trees. Potatoes small and but half a crop. 

Oct. 20, Sunday — Mr. Stockman from South Paris preaches at Union 
Chapel. And the choir of singers are here from that place to show their 
skill in music. There has been preaching of some kind a majority of 
Sabbaths this summer. 

Oct. 21 — Another money pressure coming upon the country. Phila- 
delphia, Baltimore and Providence banks suspend specie payments. Prices 
of all kinds of property falling. 

Xov. 18 — Mr. Bartlett, phrenologist, dined with us and delivered a 
lecture in the evening at the High School house. 

Xov. 22 — Charles Atwood began service at ten dollars per month. 

Dec. I — Funeral at Union Chapel of Abijah Buck, the first male child 
born in the town. 

Dec. 3 — Business of all kinds very dull. The singing school is in a 
fine way. 

Dec. 28 — A violent snow storm. Mr. Thorpe, the singing mastei, 
here. He gives mj^ daughter, Julia Davis, lessons on piano. 

1840. 

Jan. 17 — More symptoms of war on our N. E. border. 

Jan. K) — Attended funeral of Mrs. Addison Cole's child at the Fed- 
eral school house. The third child they have lost in infancy. They have 
none left. 

Jan. 23 — The mail has been delayed 2 days. 

Feb. 6 — Drafter a formal constitution for Buckfield Village choir. 

Mar. 4 — Warm as summer. 

Mar. 5 — Rain, snow and mud in abundance. 

Apr. 2 — Fine weather but bad travelling. The last day of Mr. 
Thorpe's singing school. Lewis Drew died last evening. 

Apr. g — Fast Day. Temperance meeting at Union Chapel and a lec- 
ture by Rev. Mr. Curtis of Turner. 

Apr. 10 — Roads nearly settled. 

Apr. 20 — Spring forward. The fields already green. 

Apr. 21 — The martins have arrived. Business dull. Prices low. 
Men who received from $12 to $15 last year can be hired this spring 
for $10 and $12. Hay plenteous at $5 and $6 per ton. Butter 9 cts., 
veal 3 and 4 cts. per lb., wheat 7 shillings and 6 pence, corn 5 shillings 
and falling. 

Apr. 26 — Mr. Curtis preaches at Union Chapel. A violent tempest in 
the afternoon. Thunder and lightning — rain and wind. It turned over 
and tore in pieces several sheds in the village and did considerable dam- 



484 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

age. A two-ston- building was moved several hundred feet from its 
foundation and the roofs of some others were blown off. 

May 17 — Mr. Thorpe commenced giving instruction to our choir in 
sacred music. 

May 24 — 'Sir. Curtis delivered his first lecture on the evidence of nat- 
ural and revealed religion at Union Chapel. 

Maj- 2/ — Fruit trees never so fully blossomed. 

June 2 — Clear and cool. The frost killed my corn, beans and 
pumpkins. 

June 8 — Fine growing weather. The children have brought in ripe 
strawberries — the earliest I ever knew. Everything in the vegetable king- 
dom uncommonly advanced. 

Tune 12 — Meeting of the Uiversalists at East meeting house. 

June 2^ — Had the honor of a unanimous nomination as a candidate 
for Congress. 

July 26 — Mr. Tripp from Hebron preached at Union Chapel. He is 
over 80 years old. Mr. Curtis gave his last lecture at 5 o'clock. 

July 31 — W^arm and drv". Fields and pastures dr} and yellow and 
abounding in grasshoppers. Cattle half starved. 

Aug. 3 — Fine showers last night — The earth refreshed. Wool sell- 
ing at 30 and 32 cts., hay $7, flour at Portland $5 per bbl., wheat 
here $1.25, corn .75, butter .10. Cash can this mo. be had here at 6 per 
cent, upon the best security. 

Sept. 30 — Muster at Hebron. My son, Zadoc, and I attended. 3S 
\-ears ago or one year less when I was about the age of Zadoc I attended 
muster for the first time on the same ground. I well remember how 
much I was charmed with militan,- sights and sounds, with red coats, 
cocked hats and feathers, guns and swords, with the marching of men 
and the prancing of horses, the music of the fifes and drums, the rattle 
of musketry and the many other things, so exciting to childish fancy. I 
had no shoes and traveled 3 miles barefoot early in the morning while 
the frost was on the ground with only. 3 cts. in my pocket which 1 paid 
for a small cake of molasses gingerbread. I returned home at night 
himgr}- and tired. 

Oct. I — Last mo. was remarkably pleasant and the whole summer has 
been one of the warmest, most delightful and fruitful in my remem- 
brance. 

Oct. 2 — Daniel Thompson lost an arm yesterday in a threshing ma- 
chine. I gave away 200 bushels of apples this year — a surplus I can't 
use or sell for much. 

Oct. II — Mr. Chandler preached at Union Chapel. Mr. Thorpe led 
the singing. Mr. Curtis gives us a farewell lecture at 5 o'clock. 

Oct. 18— Mr. Woodman of Xew Gloucester, a good old-fashioned 
man, preached at Union Chapel. 

Oct. 22 — Returns from Ohio State election. Harrison and Reform is 
the order of the day — sweeping the whole country from Manie to 
Arkansas. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKF[I-,LD 485 

Oct. 30 — Mr. Diimont delivered a political lecture at the town house at 
3 o'clock. 

Nov. 2— \'ote for President. Harrison 76, Van Buren 274, one vote 
gain for the Locos. Both parties waiting with almost breathless anx- 
iety, the re-ult through the State, as it was never more doubtful. 

Nov. 5— More favorable tidings for the Whigs. The State of Penn. 
with its 30 electors, has gone for Harrison and Reform. 
Nov. 8 — Loring Jewett very sick with fever. 

Nov. 13 — Our dear sister, Bathsheba Bearce, died at my father's last 
evening. 

Nov. 15, Sunday — Our esteemed friend, Mr. Pearl, came here last 
evening and preaches to-day in the village. 

Nov. 16 — We are about forming an association in the village for the 
purpose of furnishing ourselves for one year with such periodicals, re- 
views and journals as will promote our knowledge of the arts and 
sciences. 

Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving. Pleasant weather and good sleighing. 
Dec. 6, Sunday — Verv- cold. Attended 2 meetings at Union Chapel. 
Mr. Bates of Turner preached. 

Dec. 14 — A society formed in this village denommated Buckfield 
Society of Literature and Science consisting of 10 members who ad- 
vanced 3 dollars each to be expended for the following periodicals to fur- 
nish a library for the first year : North American Review 5, Edinborough 
and London Quarterlies 6, Blackwood's Magazine 5, The American 
Eclectic 5, Boston Medical and Surgical Journal 3, The Cultivator i, A 
Law Journal 3, and 2 others. The undersigned wishing to raise $200 for 
the purpose of employing Mr. Cyril Pearl to instruct the High School and 
to preach every other Sabbath in Buckfield Village for one year, com- 
mencing the first of April next and $50 and furnish the school with 
apparatus for scientific illustrations will pay sums set against their names 
to carry these purposes into effect. 
Buckfield, Dec. 19, 1840. 

Zadoc Long $25.00 

William Comstock $25.00 

James Jewett $25.00 

William Cole $25.00 

Lucius Loring $25.00 

Samuel F. Brown $20.00 

Persis Nelson $20.00 

Washington Long $15.00 

Isaac Cushman $10.00 

Albert D. White $10.00 

Dec. 22 — Snow storm the 6th — a genuine northeaster. 

1841. 
Jan. 7 — An old-fashioned January thaw. 
Jan. 9 — Exhibition of Buckfield Village choir at Union Chapel. 



486 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Jan. i8 — A sudden change in the weather from warm to cold and the 
roads are frozen into one solid sheet of glare ice. 

Jan. 26 — Met last evening with several persons of the village for con- 
ference with Mr. Cyril Pearl upon his request to discuss the subject of 
putting in operation the High School. 

Feb. 5 — Total eclipse of the moon. 

Feb. 17 — Mr. Barnabas Perry, 76 years old, died last evening. 

Feb. 19 — There has not been a day since about the middle of Xov. 
when the roads have been impassable with sleighs. The best winter for 
travelling and business since my remembrance. 

Feb. 25 — Went into the school in the afternoon which is under the in- 
struction of Thomas Chase. He attended school under my tuition wlien 
he was a boy and is one of the best teachers in town. 

Mar. I — Our High School commences under charge of Mr. Cyril Pearl 
with about 50 pupils — a majority of which are from other towns. 

Mar. 7 — Severe northeast snow storm. Funeral of Mr. Sam. Buck's 
oldest son appointed at Union Chapel but the storm has made it next to 
impossible to attend. 

Mar. 14 — People breaking track. Went in the afternoon to hear a 
funeral sermon by Mr. Pearl for Sam. Buck's son. 

Mar. 2^ — Violent rain. 75 pupils attend the village High School and 
Lyceum — chiefly from other towns. We have a private school besides in 
the village, so there are now more than 100 attending school in this place. 

Apr. 7 — Heard the robins for the first time this season. 

Apr. 8 — We have just received the melancholy news of President Har- 
rison's death. 

Apr. 21 — Snow storm in the morning. Rain in the afternoon. Mr. 
Butterfield murdered his wife and 2 children in Sumner. 

Apr. 25 — Mr. Pearl preaches at Union Chapel. Sabbath School com- 
menced. 

Apr. 28 — Mr. Brown set out 2 little roots of trees called Trees of 
Heaven — one on each side of the path in my front yard. 

Apr. 29 — Martin birds singing bravely. 

May 3 — Ground in the morning covered with snow, followed by cold 
rain and wind. Nothing done towards my spring's work. The season 
behind about a fortnight. 

May 14 — National Fast Day. Mr. Jordan after close of the examina- 
tion gave an address appropriate to the day. At 6 c'clock the pupils had 
an exhibition at Union Chapel. Some 25 or 30 young men displayed their 
talents in speaking and did honor to themselves. 

May 30 — Pleasant weather. William Cole very sick witli lung fever. 
Funeral sermon in the afternoon at Union Chapel by Mr. Tliomes for 
Nathan Atwood. 

May 31 — Second term of High School commenced tliis morning. Ap- 
ple trees blossoming. Never did vegetation progress more rapidl_\ . 

June I — House raised for Mr. Pearl on land I bought of Samuel F. 
Brown. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFH'LD 487 

June 2 — \'iolent ,«ale in the afternoon. The frame of Mr. Pearl's 
house partly hoarded, hlown down. 

June 6 — Anotlier house frame raised for Mr. Pearl. 

July 4 — Bright and heautiful mornini;. The vegetahle world in a most 
flourishing state. 

July 5 — William Cole died al.out noon. He was the wealthiest man 
HI town — a good citizen. 

July 31 — \'ery warm and dry. One of the sharpest drouths ever 
known here. Corn and potatoes suffering much. 

Aug. 7 — The drouth continues. People look soher. 

Aug. 9 — Dr. Comstock .started for Mass. to practice his profes.sion in 
\\ entham.. 

Aug. II — Col. Charles Andrews delivered an address hefore the Lvce- 
um. Dr. Coolidge moved into the village this week. 

Aug. 14 — The drouth continues. The 2d term of the High School 
closed to-day with some over 40 pupils. 

Aug. 16 — The deep water springs failing. 

Aug. 28 — The drouth continues. 

Aug. 30 — Rain, rain, rain. It has heen 63 days smcc the drouth com- 
menced. During that time we have had only 2 or 3 slight showers. 

Sept. I — Appraised William Cole's estate — the largest ever appraised 
in this town — amount $27,520.91. 

Sept. 6 — Fall term of the High School commences.. 

Sept. 29 — Regimental muster at Hebron. 

Oct. 2 — Cool. The first frost of the season. 

Oct. 26 — Bro. Thomas died to-day. 

Xov. 2 — Uncommonly fine weather, no frost. One of the female pupils 
of the High School absconded. The people in no little excitement about 
it. 

Xov. 6 — Warm and rainy. The girl found in (jilead, 50 mile- from 
here, where Mr. .\lbert D. White overtook her. She went to the Andro- 
scoggin river and jumped in and he plunged in after her at great hazard 
of his own life, for she was in water 40 feet deep. He succeeeded in 
bringing her to the shore and she is now at home. It is a singular case 
of love sick derangement. She is onl\- 16 years old, very well educated 
and a member of a respectable Congregationalist Church. 

Nov. 7 — The Washingtonian Temperance Society organized with 100 
members. The cause of Temperance never looked so well m this town. 
The young men of leading influence are engaged in it and some of the 
hardest cases of confirmed drunkenness reformed, at least have i)lcdged 
themselves to abstain from drinking. 

Xov. 10 — Contributed towards making up a >um for Mr. A. D. White 
in testimony of his late prompt persevering and hazardous services in 
rescuing the girl from suicide and restoring her to her parents. 

X'ov. 29 — The Washingtonian Temperance Societ\- meet at the Upper 
village this stormy evening. They are adding to their numbers daily. 
Glorious work. 



488 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Dec. IJ — Very- fine and sunny. Ground bare and open. Attended 
meeting. Mr. Thomes preached a good sermon. 

18+2. 

Feb. 22 — Anniversar}- of the birth of General W ashington celebrated 
here by the \\ ashingtonian Temperance Society in a manner highly grat- 
if>-ing to the friends of true liberty, sobriety and good order, notwith- 
standing the bad state of the traveling more than 1000 people were as- 
sembled before 11 a.m. A procession under an elegant flag with the 
portrait of \\ ashington painted on each side, while a martial band played 
a spirited air, marched from the village to Union Chapel, which was 
filled to overflowing aisles, entn." and galler\- with double rows in each 
pew. The banner was placed in a conspicuous part of the house and the 
exercises proceeded as follows: Song of jubilee by Buckfield Village 
Choir ; prayer by Rev. George Thomes ; voluntan,' by the choir ; oration by 
Rev. C. C. Burr of Portland ; Temperance Hymn by the choir ; poem by 
Benj. Murray. The exercises concluded with appropriate music. 

Mar. I — Pleasant and sunny. \'er\- little snow but abundant rain this 
winter. The stage to Portland has nm on wheels almost all the time. 

Mar. 20 — Ver\" pleasant and spring-like. The robins singing. 

Mar. 27 — Snow fell 9 or 10 inches yesterday so that it is good sleigh- 
ing. 

Apr. 7 — Fast Day. Some snow on the hills. The times throughout 
the country- were never so hard. The Bankrupt Law is in operation and 
people ever\-svhere are taking advantage of it. Debts are uncertain. We 
cannot have much confidence in people who have done and are still doing 
business on credit. One thing is certain people en ma^se must be more 
industrious and economical or they will not soon see an end of this pres- 
ent wicked state of things. 

Apr. 22 — The fields in many places look green. People plowing and 
sowing. To-day the weather is warm as June. At night was the warmest 
I ever experienced at this time of year. The thermometer stood at 92 
degs. above zero. 

May 9 — Bro. Washington dissolved his connection with the store. Mr. 
Loring and Jewett continue in partnership. 

May 29 — The apple trees in blossom. 

July 4 — \>r\ warm. A party celebration in this village. 

July 13 — Warm and clear. Thermometer 104 degrees. 

Aug. 18 — Rode for the first time in the steam cars from Portland to 
Kennebunk, 2^ miles in one hour — among the first passengers that have 
passed over the railway from Saco to Kennebunk. Dined at Dover, X'. 
H. Arrived at Boston half past 6 p.m. in the cars, 2^/2 hours going 66 
miles. Stopped at the American House, Hanover St. 

Sept. 22 — Frost last night and night before — the first we have had. 
Dr. Comstock here. Sold his farm to Dr. Coolidge. 

Sept. 23 — Mr. Pearl has resigned the superintendency of the High 
School. Mr. Atkinson takes his place. 



HISTORY OF BL-CKFI1-:LD 489 

Oct. 9 — Cool. Cattle Sliow at Xor\va.\. Hani Times. Good crops of 
corn. 

Nov. 14— People preparing for Thanksgiving. Money ven.- scarce. 
Provisions of all kinds very low — plenteous. Flour, $4.50; corn, 67c; 
wheat, $1.00; rye, 67c; oats, 30c; beef, 2^ to 3 cts. ; chickens, 4c; butter, 
10 to 13 cts.; cows from $10 to $15; o.xen from $50 to $60; wool, 25c; 
molasses, 25c ; sheeting, 8c. 

Dec. 2 — People breaking roads. I should judge there have been 50 
yoke of oxen in the village to-day. 

Dec. 3 — Winter, winter — storm after storm. Snow upon snow. 

D.c. 17 — Fine weather and very good sleighing. 

'843. 

Mar. 11) — A meeting was appointed at the High School house for 
Elder Hayes, a Free W ill Baptist preacher. 

Apr. 3 — The snow is so deep that the top of the fence in my front 
yard is entirely covered. We never saw so much snow on the ground 
at any time nor so badl_\" drifted. 

Apr. 26 — Warm and wet. The snow disappearing. 

May I — A freshet. The water is roaring sublimely over the dams. It 
flows in one broad sheet over the entire upper stone dam and runs a 
river down the road in front of Air. Ripley's smith shop. 

May 7 — Funeral this forenoon at Union Chapel of H. Hathaway's 
daughter. Have been to see Squire Swallow who seems near his end. 

May 21 — Attended 2 meetings and heard 2 good sermons by Mr. Davis. 

June 21 — Old Mrs. Jane Record, the oldest person in the place and 
one of the early settlers buried to-day. 

July 4 — \'ery cold. Slight fro^t this morning. We have kept a fire 
in the sitting room two days to make us comfortable — a sudden and very 
grtat change in the weather. 

July 2"/ — Ozen Spaulding very sick. 

Sept. II — Frost this morning. Killed everything in my garden that 
was not ripe. Farewell squashes, cucimibers, musk melons, sweet corn, etc. 

1844. 

Jan. I — A delightful morning. The weather has been pleasant 
through Dec. Money plenteous. Prices low. 

Jan. 5 — The proceedings of Congress are interesting now. John 
Quincy Adams, 76 years old, the best informed and most independent and 
persevering statesman in our country has triumphed in his long and 
arduous struggle with the Slave Power upon the Right of Petition. 

Jan. iS — John C. Calhoun of S. C, \'an Huren of X. V., iluchanan of 
Penn., and Col. Johnson of Ky. are the men talked of as candidates of 
the Democratic party for our next President. Henry Clay is the man for 
the Whigs. 

Jan. 13 — It was a very blustering night and the sad news comes to us 
to-da\ that a drunken man perished in the road on his way home from 



490 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

the grog shop. He was found this morning with his extremities frozen — 
quite dead. 

Jan. 21 — The late death in this place by rum is having a good eiTect 
upon the cause of Temperance. The two retailers, who have hitherto 
sold ardent spirits to be dnuik in their stores have promised to sell no 
more. 

Jan. 22 — I have been consulted about the propriety of apprehending 
a man who is suspected of passing counterfeit Mexican dollars. Five new 
well stamped dollars were exhibited to me, which I should without hesi- 
tation have taken for good money. The community is everywhere in- 
fested with spurious bank bills on all the banks of long standing. Such 
bills are extensively in circulation, so well made that even the banks in 
some instances have been imposed tipon by them. And a bold rogue, a 
short time ago, passed So Mexican dollars, all counterfeit silver, to one 
of the Portland banks. It was, however, soon enough discovered to 
secure the villain who is now in state's prison. 

Jan. 28 — Extremely cold. It seems as if every living thing would 
perish. 

Jan. 31 — It has been altogether the coldest January I ever experi- 
enced. It is so cold it seems that we all must perish in spite of roaring 
fires in 2 rooms and a red hot cook stove in the kitchen. 

Feb. 8 — Dull times. An old drunkard is going home sober. He can't 
buy a glass of rum in this village. Our rum shops have di>continued the 
sale of ardent spirits to drunkards. 

Mar 3 — Spring weather. The snow is running off. 

Mar. 10 — Delightful weather. Mr. Carlton from Oxford preaches at 
the school house. 

Apr. I — A clear cool winter day. Rode to Lewiston in a sleigh. 

Apr. 21 — Luther Crocker died at Dr. Bridgham's last night. 

Apr. 22 — Clinton Ripley, a bit of a lad 7 years old, has brought me a 
trout, which he just now caught out of the river with hook and line, 
weighing 2 lbs. and 6 ozs. — a beauty. The largest ever caught before in 
this stream it is said. I paid him 20 cts. for it. 

Maj- 3 — Best of weather. People sowing and planting. 

May 12 — Mr. Chase, 83 years old, preached at Union L'hapel. 
• May 14 — A meeting this p.m. in the village of the Co.mty Singing 
Society. 

May 16 — Apple trees in full bloom. 

May 20 — Mr. Ballard commences a High School in this place. 

June 13 — I have just walked down stream to see the preparations 
making for a starch factory. Atwood & Co. are erecting a dam, digging 
a canal and making brick for the building that is to be 75 ft. long and 3 
stories high. 

June 20 — Prices: Hay, $6; corn, 67 cts.; rye, 67 cts.; oats, 2^; flour, 
4.67; butter, 9 cts.; molasses, .30. Money plenteous at 6 per cent, for 
good security. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 491 

Jul}- 4— So cold that ^ve have a fire in the sitting room to make us 
comfortable. The American Flag hoisted on Bridgham's store is waving 
in a good stiff breeze. Boys are firing the swivel. This is all Buck- 
field does in commendation of the birthday of our Independence. 

Aug. 9 — Attended a mass meeting of the Whigs at Paris and heard 
able speeches by Mr. Evans and Mr. Morse upon the subject of protection, 
tariff and the annexation of Texas. 

Aug. 23 — Cold rain storm. My father here 74 years old says it is the 
coldest summer but one that he can remember. We have had a fire in 
the sitting room all day which is needed for comfort as much as in 
winter. 

Aug. 31 — Mr. Morse delivers a Whig political address in the village. 

Sept. 4 — County Washingtonian Temperance Society met in this vil- 
lage and were addressed by Neal Dow of Portland. 

Sept. 5 — Attended the Free Will Baptist Quarterly meeting at the 
East meeting house. 

Sept. 7 — Attended Whig mass meeting at Lewiston. 2000 people as- 
sembled with banners, music and roar of guns. 

Sept. 18 — This is believed to be the most fruitful season that has ever 
been in this country. Large crops of every kind of produce. Xothing 
fails this year, yet it has been an unusually cold season. 

Sept. 23 — A change in the weatehr. Frost this morning. The first to 
injure anything this season. 

Oct. 22 — This is the day the Millerites looked for the coming of Christ 
and the end of the world. 

Dec. 15 — Pleasant. No meeting in this village for religious worship 
on the Sabbath. We are a stupid people. 

Dec. 28 — A man stopped in the way and wrote on a post by the spring: 

"A Temperance fountain, good as can be 
Better far than Rum or Brandy 
And if this truth excite your fury. 
Then let my horse be judge and jurj-." 



1845. 

Jan. 19— Clear, cold weather. Good sleighing. We have had no re- 
ligious meeting in the village of late. The Universalists ran themselves 
out last summer, by dividing into two parties — the Thomes party and the 
Canfield party and by contentions for the ascendency till it might be said 
thej^ were consumed in their own fiery conflicts. Heaven grant us a bet- 
ter state of things. 

Jan. 22 — A dancing school is kept in the village under charge of Elisha 
Buck. 

Jan. 28 — Summer-like weather. 

Feb. 2 — The coledst weather we have had. For 48 hours it has been 
almost insufferable. 

Feb. 3— The cold continues and increases. 



492 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Feb. 2-i — Warm. Snow running. A Temperance dinner partv at Faris 
Hill. 

Mar. I — Mr. Geo. F. Emery addres.ses the people here upon the sub- 
ject of Temperance. The Temperance folks are divided into two par- 
ties — the moral suasionists and the legal suasionists. 

Mar. 3 — Annual town meeting. All the nominations are made with 
reference to Temperance and Anti-Temperance. 

Mar. 30 — A meeting was held in the village yesterday to choose a 
committee to survey a route from Mechanic Falls through this village to 
Rum ford Point for the great Railway in contemplation from Portland to 
Montreal. Charters have been granted from our State Legislature and 
Canada. The books are opened for taking up the stock. The expense 
of the railway is estimated at $5,000,000. 

Apr. 13 — My son, Zadoc, takes great interest in his Latin lessons. 
Carroll Loring recites to me in English Grammar and James Jewett in 
reading and spelling. 

June 22, Sunday — Mr. Tenney from Ellsworth — a talented sermonizer, 
preaches at Union Chapel. 

July I — A severe drouth, cloudy and cold. We have a fire in the sit- 
ting room and the stores in the village keep fires as in January. 

July 4 — Delightful morning. The bo^'s firing the swivel. 

July 22 — Drouth severe. Blueberries ripe. 

Aug. 2 — Sold a strip of ray field on the north side 6 rods long to W'm. 
Cresey containing about i^ acres for $226. 

Sept. I — Mr. Foster commenced a High School in the village. 

Sept. 27 — Have just finished digging potatoes. Carried about 100 
bushels to the Starch Factory and received i2y2C per bushel. The crop 
this fall bad everywhere in this quarter. Not a quarter crop of sound 
potatoes will be saved. 

Nov. 6 — Very pleasant — no frost. The grass springing up anew since 
the rain and gives the ground a spring-like appearance. 

Nov. 17 — \'ery fine weather. Mr. Brown gone to Boston to get the of- 
fice of Supt. of Mass. Gen'l Hospital. 

Dec. 7, Sunday — Attended meeting at Union Chapel. Heard John 
Allen called "Camp Meeting John." 

Dec. 15 — Miss Mar>- Ann Brown married and moved to Bangor. 

Dec. 18 — Albert D. White has sold his tannery and land to Josiah W. 
Whitten and Alexander Robinson for $2000 — the same property I sold 
him for $1800. 

1846. 

Jan. I — Clear, cool weather. Fine sleighing. 

Jan. 22 — Extremely cold and blustering. My son, John Davis, had 
both his ears frozen when coming home from school. 

Mar. 2'] — We have had a great rain. Hall's bridge carried away by 
the freshet. 

Apr. 10 — We are all topsy turvy, making arrangements to move to 
Portland. I have let mv house and garden to Air. Ferdinand Warren for 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 493 

$7^ a year. He to pay one-lialf the taxes. I have let my field adjoining 
my house to E. Atwood & Co. 

Apr. 22 — Mr. Benjamin Bean buried. Funeral at Union Chapel. 

Apr. 27 — Started with my family for Portland. 

Aug. 26 — We have concluded to move back to our old place in B. 

Sept. 10 — Arrived in Buckfield. 

Sept. 21 — Commenced keeping house again in Buckfield. 

Oct. II — That oft mentioned character, "the oldest inhabitant," does 
not remember so pleasant and so productive a season as this 

Nov. II — The Fall elections everywhere turn out favorable to the 
Whigs. New Hampshire sets the example by a thorough change. Maine 
next has given almost a death blow to Locofocoism — the Whigs having 
prevented the election of Governor by the people. 

Dec. I — Thanksgiving. Fine winter weather. 

1847- 
Jan I — A thaw 

Jan. 31 — 50 yoke of oxen from different sections of the town have been 
in the village breaking out roads. 

Feb. 12 — Pleasant. Good sleighing. My son, John Davis, playing 
dominoes with his grandmother Nelson — She is 80 and he 8 years old. 

Feb. 16 — Very cold. Money plenteous. Provisions rising very much 
in price on account of the demand in Europe. The repeal of duties in 
England, the destruction of the potato crop, the chief dependence of the 
Irish people, have opened a market for provisions from the U. S. to such 
an extent, that merchants are unable to procure carrying vessels enough 
for our exports. 

Mar. 31 — The last day of as cold a March as was ever experienced in 
this climate. To-day a cold snow storm. There is a mass meeting in the 
village to-day for the purpose of explaining and having generally under- 
stood the object, probable expense and advantage of a railway from this 
village to Mechanic Falls, 12 miles to meet the Portland and Montreal 
road. The people of this village have already pledged themselves to take 
about $17,000 stock in the contemplated road. 

Apr. 8— Fast Day. People travel in sleighs, Feb. and March have 
been the coldest for 30 years. Contributed 9 shillings for the relief of 
the suffering Irish and Julia and Persis have also articles of wearing 
apparel priced at 15 shillings. 

Apr. 13— The martins appear this morning. They must have made a 
miscalculation. It is two weeks earlier than they usually come. 

Apr. 15— Persis Ijegging old clothes to send to Ireland. With one 
hand we are sending our ships laden with food and clothing to Ireland, 
with the other our ships laden with implements of war and blood shed to 
Mexico. 

Apr. 22 — Warm and damp. The birds singing. A warm shower with 
thunder and lightning. The ice is coming over tlie dam. Men and boys 
are assembled on the bridge to witness it. 



494 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

May I — Very cold. The trees are as naked and budless as in Jan- 
uary. A meeting in the village to see about the R. R. to Bog Falls. 
Man}- attend — some from Portland. 

May 2 — V. D. Parris, Marshal of Maine, called. 

May 3 — Have sold a house lot to Virgil D. Parris out of my pasture 
land — about ^ of an acre for $75. Snow storm. Dr. Bridgham calls on 
me and says that he has visited patients 5 miles distant in a sleigh. He 
says the snow in some places is very deep. 

May 17 — Beautiful weather. Trees leaving out. 

May 18 — My Father has walked up here in the rain to bring me a 
piece of veal. He was 77 years old last week. My mother, 71 years old, 
walked up to see me 2 miles and back. 

June 6 — A goodly number of children attend the opening of the Sab- 
bath School. Mr. James, Congregationalist minister, preaches at Union 
Chapel at 5 o'clock. 

June 15 — Mother Nelson died without a struggle at 9 o'clock a.m. 
She died a Christian, universalh- beloved and respected, in the 82d 3-ear 
of her age. 

June 22 — Business of the village, Xo. of stores, mechanics, etc. : Five 
stores in operation, Loring &: Jewett, Ephraim Atwood & Co., Geo. Ben- 
nett, James Murdock, Sam Thomes. Two wagon shops, Amor>' H. Allen 
and Aaron Parsons. 2 blacksmith shops, i starch factor}^ that makes 
30 tons of starch yearly, i hoe factory- that makes 200 doz. hoes yearly, 
one tin factory- — Mr. Douglass, i boot and shoe factory — John Taylor. 
I tannery, Alexander Robinson and Josiah W. Whitten, 2 saw mills, i 
grist mill with 4 run of stones, Artemas F. Cole, i cabinet shop, Lloyd 
Cole, I tailor, Samuel Thomes; i slop shop, James Murdock; i public 
house for travellers, Sydenham Bridgham ; i clothing and carding mill, 
Addison G. Cole. 36 dwelling houses, 3 lawyers doing business in sep- 
arate offices, 4 physicians, William Bridgham & Son (\Vm. P.), Cyrus 
Coolidge and John S. Drake; i harness maker, Ferdinand A. Warren. 
Business of the village increasing. People are industrious and temperate 
and though not rich, are generally independent as to property. 225 in- 
habitants in the village. 

July 5 — The Pres. of the U. S. was at Augusta last week and at Port- 
land yesterday. 

July 20 — The charter for a Branch R. R. to Mechanic Falls received 
from the Legislature. 

July 26 — \\ent with Zadoc, John Davis and Carroll Loring to Streaked 
Mountain blueberrjing. Hay is abundant this season. 

Aug. I, Sunday — Warm. Xo meeting in the village to-day. 

Aug. 13 — There are 2 factories in Buckfield where great quantities 
of powder are made. 

Aug. 15, Sunday — Went to East meeting house where we were much 
edified by a sermon by Elder Phinney, a very fluent Free Baptist 
preacher. 

Aug. 18— People talking about the Buckfield Branch Ry. It is now 
nearly certain that the enterprise will go into effect. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 49:) 

Aug. 21 — Books opened for subscription for slock in the Bnckfield 
Branch Railroad. 

Aug. 2-/ — $32,000 of stock in the railroad is subscribed for. 

Aug. 31 — The Univcrsalists have an association meeting in tliis village 
l(.- morrow. 

S:"pt. 6 — It i.s sickly. People are troubled wiMi fever- and colds. 

Xov. 2'^, — Thanksgiving. \W have had a ;)o\verful rain. The weather 
is now warm as sunimer. 

Dec. I — Extremely cold. Xo snow on the ground. Scliool has com- 
menced mider charge of Lucy l^^obinson. 

Dec. 15 — Julia Davis was married to licr half cousin. Nelson D. White 
by Mr. Butler. 

1S48. 

Jan. I — Warm a? summer. Ciround entirely bare. The grass looks 
green around my buildings. 

Jan. T3 — E.Ktremely cold. Good sleighing. The nionth of Dec. aver- 
aged 5 degrees colder than for 30 years. 

Jan. 24 — I am summoned to attend the trial of Valorus Coolidge for 
murder at Augusta to-morrow. 

Jan. 26 — Started to go to Augusta. Went 20 miles and heard of the 
adjournment of the trial to March. 

Feb. 3 — Mild — little snow, it has thus far been the mildest winter 
known in this climate. 

Mar. 13 — Rode in a double sleigh with Squire Brown, Mr. Loring, 
Elder Thomes and Josiah W. Whitten to Augusta. 

Mar. 14 — Trial of Coolidge commenced in the largest church in tlic 
place which was filled with people. 

?*far. 15— Very cold. Trial continue-^. The prisoner appears well. 
House crowded — galleries with ladies. 

Mar. 2'^ — We hear that Valorus Coolidge was convicted of murder and 
sentenced to be hung after one year's solitary confinement at hard labor 
in the State's Prison. 

Apr. 22- — Martin birds arrived to-day. Road nearly settled. People 
plowing. 

May 7 — Delightful. Earth and heavens full of beauty, music and 
gladness. 

May 29--?\Ir. Walker from Indiana gave us a ranting specimen of 
Western stump oratory yesterday p. m. which did no great credit to him 
or his state. 

Aug. 23 — I have bonded to Levi Cushman 54 acre of land opposite Mr. 
Jcwet^'s for a house lot, price $250. Land for building lots is high in 
this village. Mr. Loring sold a piece 40 ft. square near his store on the 
Hebron road for $125. 

Sept. 20 — Rented my house, stable and garden to Seth B. Horton for 
5 years at $2.25 per year to be kept for public entertainment. 

Oct. 18 — Cattle show at the village. Rain. 



496 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Oct. 31 — Summer-like weather. Tliis is a proud day for Bucktield. 
We celebrate the breaking ground for the Railroad. Elder Chase was 
appointed to invoke the blessing of Heaven upon the work We procured 
a large carriage and 3 horses to carry oldest citizens to the ground at the 
head of a long procession with martial music and the firing of cannon, 13 
old men whose average age was 84 years. 5 of them Rev. soldiers whose 
average age is Qo years. After a short and appropriate speech by Mr. 
Parris. President of the Company. Mr. Chase, Sj years old. who lias been 
a minister of the Gospel one-half a century, made a prayer. Mr. Jona- 
than Record, 98 years old. who helped make tlie first road in Buckheld, 
struck the tirst blow on the railway. After the ceremonies on the groimd, 
the old men were escorted to the Xezinscot House kept by Seth B. Hor- 
ton and a dinner was given them. 113 guns. 

Xov. 16 — Thanksgiving Day. Beautiful weather. 

Xov. 17 — Old Zack Taylor, so-called Whig, is elected President of the 
U. S. 

Xov. 25 — Capt. Horton put up his sign for the Xezinscot House. 

Dec. 14 — The addition, to my house for hall and dressing room nearly 
completed. 

1849. 
Jan. I — \"ery pleasant. 

Jan. 2S — Rnckneld E. R. R. goes ahead rapidly. ^4 of distance is 
graded and a contract is made and $5000 advanced for the iron rails, 1000 
tons at $34, exclusive of duties, to be delivered at Portland next Jime. 
Capt. Horton has the California gold fever. 

Feb. 6 — Capt. Horton gone to Bath to procure a vessel in which to go 
to California for gold. He has sold his furniture in this house to Mr. 
X'athan Morrill, who has agreed to take a lease of the house. 

May 7 — Zadoc and Jolm commenced study at Hebron Academy. 
Board with Mr. Fairbanks, the preceptor at 6 shillings each per week. 

May 14 — A liigh freshet. 

July 4- -A Temperance celebration here. Very honorable to the place. 
4000 people judged to be present. 

Aug. 13 — Began to-day to lay the rails for the Buckheld Branch R. R. 
at ^Mechanic Falls. 

Aug. 18— Sold a house lot to Ira Ames. 2= rods square for $50. Land 
in east corner of the pasture lately conveyed to me opposite Allen's. Par- 
ris' and Thomes's land by Sam. B. Perry. 

Aug. 23 — Railroad nearly graded. It will be in operation this fall if 
the company can raise a loan of $35,000 which they are in pursuit of. 

Aug. 26 — Meeting at Union Chapel. 4 ministers present, 2 Baptists 
and 2 Universalists whose united ages were 314 years, average 78^2 
years. 

Aug. 27 — Annual meeting of the Railroad Comj)any last Sat. Old 
Board of Directors elected with one exception. 

Aug. 28— Sold my shares in the B. B. R. R. to V. D. Parris for 52I/2 
per cent.: 20 shares, $2000 for $1050. Loss $950. I have paid into the 



*l 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 4<)7 

treasury $900. Mr. P. is to pay the remaining assessment that will he 
made on me by my paying $50 and then he receives certificates of stock. 

Dec. I — The B. B. R. R. not yet in operation. The rails laid to within 
5 miles of tlie village. The cost when the road is completed will not be 
less I think than $150.000 — $50,000 more than the estimates. 

Dec. 2 — Very cold. Tlie ground shut up effectually last night. Many 
of the boarders of the Xezinscot House have left. Mr. Arrowsmit'h and 
wife are in X. Y. Parse! and Benson at Portland, Barrett and Stevenson 
on the line of the Atlantic & St. Lawrence road, ^Ir. Ciregg at Mr. A. F. 
Cole's and about to be married to Miss Helen Cole. All the foregoing 
have been connected with the construction of the railroad. Mr. Sullivan 
Andrews has left because he is not satisfied with his treatment. I am 
again to take the house the first of ^lay. 

Dec. 21 — I have bought of Ephraim Atwood an orchard — about J4 
acre, on which there are some 82 apple trees for $100. 

1850. 

Jan. I — Good weather. Good sleighing. 

Jan. 8 — A great multitude assembled at the village to see the first 
train come in. A dinner prepared at this house for 100 invited guests 
from other towns. Owing to the snow drifting upon the track, the en- 
gine could not get through to the great mortification and disappointment 
of the people of the place. 

Jan. II — The cars with passengers came into the village for the first 
time. 

Jan. 13 — Olive Record buried to-day. 

Jan. 20 — Jonathan Buck buried to-day. 

Jan. 26 — Mr. Brown has sold his house and farm to America Farrar. 

Jan. 29 — Mrs. Ephraim Atw^ood, our near neighbor, is dying with con- 
sumption. 

Feb. 6 — We are having the coldest weather for the winter. Snow's 
very deep and travelling difficult. The Railroad is in operation, but 
meets with much delay and trouble on account of blocking snows. 

Apr. 3 — Mr. Brown moved from his house and Mrs. B. and Charlotte 
left the place to reside in Bangor. 

Apr. 13^1 have let the Sons of Temperance have the use of the hall 
for the meetings of their Society at $8 per quarter. 

Apr. 17 — Mr. Morrill moved his goods and family away from our 
house. 

Apr. 27 — Mr. America Farrar raising an addition to his house. His 
business large. 

May 6 — Mr. America Farrar is building a spacious addition to his 
house on the side of my garden. Considerable improvement has been 
made in the buildings and business of the village since the commence- 
ment of the R. R. Rents and real estate have advanced very much. 

July 3 — The town is widening and repairing the bridge in the village. 

July 25 — Howard, the violinist, here. 



498 HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 

Aug. 3 — The Bucktield Brass Band meet this evening. The B. B. R. 
R. is doing business enough to pay running expenses, but not enough to 
pay tlie interest of the company's debt which would be about $20 a day. 

Oct. 20 — Mr. Small. Preceptor of Hebron Academy, preached at Union 
Chapel The Sons of Temperance left my hall and now meet at Farrar's. 

Dec. 5 — The business of the village has very much increased since the 
R. R. commenced. Loring. Te%\ett & Co. are beginning the manufacture 
of shoes. Atwood & Cresey are also preparing for it. Charles Davis & 
Co. are doing a considerable business in their flour mill. They have 
ground with what they now have on hand 8000 bushels of wheat, which 
they brought from the State of X. Y. last year. 20 dwelling houses have 
been erected. 3 stores and very many other buildings within two years. 
The population of the village has been increased by many coming in. 
The R. R. here is in a bad way. It is believed that it will be an entire 
loss to stockholders, to the amount they signed for. There seems not to 
be company funds enough to pay creditors. 

Dec. II — The stockholders much discouraged about our R. R. The 
Company has not the means to pay its debts. The engine ran off the 
track to-day at ^lechanic Falls, so that passengers were obliged to take 
sleighs. Mr. White from Bangor is here and talks of buying the farm 
of the late Jonathan Buck. 

Dec. 13 — My son. Zadoc, is in the store of William .V. Child & Co. 

Dec. 15 — Our R. R. unending more than it earns. 

1S51. 

Jan. 7 — The snows have so blocked up the R. R. that the cars have 
not passed over it for some 10 days. 

Jan. 10 — The R. R. Co. desperately embarrassed. The stock is worth- 
less and holders cannot give it away to responsible parties. The road 
is mortgaged for about $40,000 and the floating liabilities are nearly as 
much besides. Subscribers to stock were not aware that they made 
themselves liable to creditors of the company to the amoimt of their 
stock, ^[any are disposing of their property to avoid it. 

Jan. 14 — A rumor is out that the Canal Bank has failed. If so the 
loss among the people will be severe as the money on that bank is largely 
in circulation here and elsewhere. I have some $45. 

Jan. 25 — Stockholders of the R. R. met at the depot to see what can 
be done for the road. It is not now in operation, owing to some injury 
done to the engine. 

Feb. 4 — Zadoc takes charge of the store of Wm. A. Child & Co. John 
Davis in the Post Office. 

Feb. 13 — Bought the entire stock of Wm. A. Child & Co.. appraised 
at $i6So.i2. I have done this for Zadoc. 

Mar. 26 — Funeral of my brother, Miles's wife. She died of consump- 
tion and has left 7 children. 

.\pr. 3 — Funeral of Mr. John Lorine. < ne of oldest citizens of the 
place, aged 81. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 49;) 

Apr. 12— Meeting of the I!. }■-. R. R. stockliolders at which aliout $14.- 
000 were subscribed in part to satisfy their liabilities. 

Apr. 15— The prospect for l)usine.= s and for social improvement in this 
place, dim and small. People embarrassed and discouraged on account 
of t'le R. R. The whole effect on the comnumity is bad. 

Apr. 26— The town has voted to petition the Legislature to grant 
power to loan its credit to the amount of 15 per cent of the cash valua- 
tion of property for the purpose of aiding the R. R. 

Oct. 11 — Jolm Davis recites his hrst lessons in Greek to Mr. Small, 
preacher in this \illage. 

Oct. 13— We are Imilding a new school house in the village wiili lirick 
walls. It is on the ground had of V. D. Parris, on the road nearly op- 
posite tJie town house on a place eml)racing improvements recommended 
by the State Board of Education. Cost estimated $[400 all told. 

Oct. 20 — Bought the store in wliich my son, Zadoc, trades tliis day 
deeded to me by N. O Douglass and paid $1000 for it to Artemas F. Cole, 
who exchanged a dwelling house for it with Mr. Douglass. Mr. A. F. 
Cole lias this day bought one-half of my stock in trade and enters into 
co-partnership. He pays me $1100 for half the stock. 

Nov. 2-/ — Thanksgiving Day. Delightful weather. Good sleighing. 
Winter is about 30 days earlier than usual. 

Xov. 30 — I last week gave up to the R. R. Co. claims against it for 
$2072.00 and took a certificate from the Treasurer. That clears me from 
all further liabilities to the Co. and to its creditors according to the laws 
of the .State. This matter has occasioned me much anxiety and I have 
been fortunate to get fully discharged so cheaply. I sul)scribed for 3a 
shares. My whole liability was $4000. I have managed to get dis- 
cliarged for less than $1400 by bu\-ing claims against the company. 

1852. 

-Apr. II — Mr. Small has commenced a sort of an Educational Institute 
in the village — that is to meet with as many of the scholars in this dis- 
trict as please to attend twice a week for the purpose of improvement, 
etc. Mr. Hiram Hall has opened a store in this village with a new and 
large stock of common coimtr\^ merchandize. 

Apr. 15 — Fast Day. Farmers out of hay. It is a very discouraging 
time for them. Old Mr. Wm. Brock, a poor i)auper, buried in a howling 
snow storm, without mourners and without funeral -services. Old Mrs. 
Chaffin was buried yesterday. 

Apr. 16 — Snow fell yesterday t6 inches deep. 

Apr. 28 — Mr. Small preached. He has fuller meetings than any min- 
ister we have had this long time. 

Apr. 2Q — Martins came yesterday. 
June 28 — Sold to Artemas F. Cole my part of the stock in trade and 
dissolved the co-partnership of Cole & Long. 

Aug. 30 — Zadoc went this morning at half past 5 on the cars to com- 
mence as clerk with J. X. Dennison & Co., Boston. 



500 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Sept. 5 — Mr. Small preaches at Union Chapel. We miss Zadoc's flute 
in the choir. 

Oct. 25 — The telegraph this morning brings us the news of the death 
of Daniel Webster at his home in Marshfield, Mass. — A great light is ex 
tinguished — a star of the first magnitude has fallen. 



1853. 

Feb. 9 — ^^'e never knew so warm and broken a winter. 

Feb. 23 — There have been brought into the village this winter u.; tons 
of dried apples. 

Feb. 25 — F. O. J. Smith is here making contracts to grade the exten- 
sion of the R. R. to Canton. 

Feb. 28 — Last day of the shortest and mildest winter I ever experi- 
enced. I have this da\^ written for counsel touching my R. R. liabilities. 
The R. R. has cost the people here much money and trouble. 

Mar. 3 — Buckfield Sewing Circle held its annual fair this eve at 
Cresey's Hall. A Mr. Nicholson, an itinerant phrenologist, has been in 
the village a week humbugging old and young. He has 50 cts. for chart 
of head. I believe there has been no necessity this winter for breaking 
roads — an unheard of instance in this climate. 

]Mar. 7 — Annual town meeting. The people divided into two parties 
upon the ^Nlaine Liquor Law — denominated Ramrods and Rummies. The 
Rummies carry the day and elect all their candidates by a majority of 
30 or 40. 

}vlar. — Free Soil people hold a meeting to-day and to-morrow at 
LTnion Chapel. 

^lar. 18-— America Farrar raising up his house for a tavern. 

r^far. 2j. Sunday — Xo meeting. Mr. Small absent and talks of leaving 
the place. 

Apr. 3 — Grandfather Long. 83 years old, walked up 2 miles to see us — 
as spry and smart as a lad of 12. 

Apr. 9— -My field broken into this week for the extension of the R. R. 
Men are making a culvert in the swale. A gentleman named Woodbury, 
overseeing the work, lost his pocketbook a few days ago, containuig in 
cash $400 and as much more in drafts and notes. Yesterdav ^ set out a 
snow-ball tree on the north side of my front yard path — also a small elm 
and 2 peonies, i high cranberry bush, all taken from Mr. Farrar's front 
garden, which Mr. Samuel F. Brown planted there, wlien he owned the 
place. It is sad to see the shrubbery ^Ir. Brown took so much pains 
with, rooted up. 

May I — Mr. Small preaches. We have a seraphine in the church, 
hired of the Baptist Society of Norway. 

May 3 — F. O. J. Smith moved with his family into the village .Sat. 
last. Boards at 'Mr. Cresey's tavern. 

May 5 — ^Ir. Small who attended the examination at Hebron Academy 
tells me that John Davis is the best Greek scholar there. 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIl'LD 501 

^lay 30— A young- Irishman who worked on the R. R. was drowned 
here last evening. He went into the river on horsehack — fell off his 
horse and was drowned before he could get help. 

June 24 — America Farrar furnishing his tavern to he opened ne.xt 
week under care of John Taylor as landlord. 

July 5 — Mr. Farrar's new hotel opened to-day. 

July 21 — John Davis returned from Caml>ridge witli liis certificate of 
admission at Harvard. 

July 27 — A day to be remembered as the day of my own motlier's 
death — 77 years of age. 

Aug. 4 — Ball at Farrar's hotel last night. Cost of music SSo — costly 
supper. Mr. Clifford of Portland, Robinson oi Hartford, Ruel Washburn 
of Livermore, Seth May of Wintlirop, Belcher of Farmington and Lud- 
dcn of Turner, referees and counsel in a law case of A. G. Cole vs. Wm. 
Bridgham staid at our house last night. Zadoc went into trade with 
Carroll Loring at his father's store. I let Zadoc have $1500 in cash and 
Carroll has $i.Soo. Carroll's father works all the time for them and has 
1-3 of the profits. The firm name is Loring & Long. 

Dec. I — No snow on the ground. Cattle feeding in the field. The 
weather is delightful. 

Dec. II, Sundaj- — Mr. Small baptized Col. Ichabod Bonne\^ D. Swett 
and wife. E. Ricker and wife and Mr. Noah Prince yesterday in the river 
near A. G. Cole's dam and gave them the right hand of fellowship and 
welcomed thein into the Paris Church of which he is a member. 

1854. 

Jan. 24 — The Buckfield Sewing Circle has its annual levee at Taylor's 
Hall to-day. 

Jan. 25— Josiah W bitten leaves my house to-day and moves on to uie 
Capt. Record place. This is one of the old-fashioned winters, weallier 
cold, snow deep. 

Feb. 5 — Very cold. Thermometer 24 degrees below zero. Funeral of 
Elizabeth Rice, a pauper at Union Chapel. She and her widowed mother, 
\vho is about 80 years old, lately went to the poor house after years and 
years of struggling against poverty with heroic courage, suffering and 
severe destitution, rather than become a public charge. 

Feb. 12 — Mrs. Valentine Ripley buried to-day. 

Feb. 15— The Whigs by a split in the Democratic party in this state 
have a Governor, Speaker of the House, etc. Prices of provisions: Best 
flour, $12; hay, $15 and other things in proportion. 

Feb. 23— Snow storm. The earth is buried deep. The people are un- 
easy. Many talk of finding a warmer latitude. Some have already 
started for California. The traders and merchants suffer most. Tlieir 
business in a great measure is stopped. 

Apr. 7—9 bbls. of liquor destroyed here this afternoon. A great 
crowd around the sheriff as he knocked open the barrels and spilled "the 
critter."— Ramrods and Rummies — some cross, some making sport — some 
readv to fisrht, some catching the liquor in their caps from under the 



502 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

sheriff's ax and drinking freely of it and then passing it to others, some 
pushing, some pushed, some laughing, some swearing, one man pounded 
in the face and searching furiously with douhled fists for him who did it. 
Rummies seized a harrel of liquor and rolled it away were chased by 
Ramrods who retook it and guarded it as they would a condemned mur- 
derer till he undergoes the sentence of the law. A disgraceful row de 
row. 

Alay 14 — Last night we had a fearful fire in the village. Air. Battles' 
public house and all the stables and sheds connected together with 
Bridgham's store were entirely consumed. The fire broke out about mid- 
night. Loss estimated at $4000. Insurance, $2400. 

June 16 — Ezra Bisbee buried. 

July 4 — No celebration here. The American Flag is waving from the 
sign pole of Farrar's hotel. 

July 26 — Mr. Leonard from Boston has fixed our old clock so that it 
strikes the hours correctly. It has been running for half a century and 
was bequeathed by grandmother Nelson to Zadoc. It was valued highly 
by her. Its original cost was $80. She kept it in her sleeping room and 
its ticking and striking was company for her especially when at the late 
hours of the night she covild not sleep. For several years the striking 
part has been out of order. It is pleasant tO' hear it again, though it 
awakens sad memories. It seems like the knell of departed friend's and 
departed enjoyments. 

Aug. I — Persis Seaver is married to Percival W. Bartlett of Boston 
and takes leave of us. Ceremony performed by Rev. A. K. P. Small. 

.Aug. 4— Political secret associations are being formed all over the 
country whose members are called Know Nothings. 

Aug. 7 — News of cholera in the city of Portland. 

Aug. 8 — Business in the village very dull. Nothing being done on the 
extension of the R. R. 

Sept. II — The drouth has caused a panic throughout the country that 
operates unfavorably to buyers of produce. Arrangements are being 
made to build a Calvanist Baptist church in Buckfield village. Two- 
thirds of the pews already sold. The house is being erected by Mr. Small 
who started the enterprise and is doing much towards its completion. 

Sept. 13 — New Baptist church organized to-day under the pastorate of 
Mr. .Small — c'hiefly of ladies. 

Oct. 27 — This morning at 4^ o'clock there was an unusual appearance 
in the heavens. First broke into my room a flash of soft and beautiful 
light with the suddenness of lightning. I beheld southeastward from my 
window a line of meteoric light like a long string of brilliant stars — first 
dazzling to the sight, then changing — the lower end turning up so as to 
form the resemblance to a horse shoe. In 15 minutes it had disappeared. 

Nov. 2 — Mr. David Swett, one of our most valuable citizens and neigh- 
1-ors, died to-day about noon, typhoid fever. 

Nov. 9 — Singing school commenced under the instruction of Air. Cush ■ 
man of Hebron. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 503 

Mar. 5 — Annual town meeting. All t!ic voters out Two strong 
parties. Ramrods and Rununies. Tlic latter are victorious and sweep ev- 
erything before them. 

Mar. 1/ — F. O. J. Smitli is erecting a bridge ove'" the river above the 
grist mill dam for the R. R. extension. 

Apr. I, Sunda\- — A powerful rain — tra\elling had. Xo meeting for 
public worship. 

June 4 — Refreshing rain. Tlie apple trees in full blossom. It is a 
hard time for poor people on account of the scarcity and high prices of 
provisions. Wheat, $3; corn. $1.50; best flour, $15; lieef per cwt., $10. 
June 25 —Funeral of Sam'l Thomes's wife. 

July 3 — The 2 principal political divisions — Fusionists and Liberals, 
marshalling their forces for cele])rating to-nu^rrow at So. Paris and Paris 
Hill. 

O what a war of words there'll be 
Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee. 
Flow demagogues will vant and strain 
And vulgar masses shout amain. 
How dandy orators will blow 
About the country's weal or woe, 
Tell what to do in such a crisis 
To check advance of public vices 
Achievements mighty will be done 
In declamation : yet the sun 
Will rise in spite of all they say 
And set as usual e\ery day. 

Aug. 17— Yesterday the County Commissioners were here to appraise 
the damage for locating the extension of the R. R. over my land. 

Oct. I — Pleasant autumn weather. The R. R. extension is being for- 
warded. The rails are laid as far as Mr. Artcmas F. Cole's house. 

1856. 

Jan. T2— Ordered of X. Hooper & Co., a bell for the P.aptist church, 
800 lbs. at 31 cts. and the fixtures for lianging ^27. The whole omplete 
for $275 put on board of steamer. 

Jan. 20, Sunday — .\ttended worship in the new church for the first 
time. It is a very pleasant house. Mr. Small is entitled to much credit 
for what he has done to improve society here. 

Jan. 24— I have collected over $350 in contributions for the new P>ap- 
tist Church. Bell came on the cars this afternoon. Will cost when ready 
to be rung $300. The remainder of what 1 have collected, 1 shall give 
to Rev. A. K. P. Small to relieve him from debts assumed in l)uilding the 
house. This is the lirst church l)ell ever seen in Ruckfiekl and' it has cost 
me some effort. 

F"eb. 10, Sun(lay--Church bell ringing for meetin^j. The first Sabbath 
on which a church bell has been rung in liuckficld. 



504 HISTORY OF BLXKFIKLD 

Apr. 2 — The corporators of the Xezinscot Bank met at the tavern and 
voted to accept the charter and chose a committee to procure subscribers 
for the stock. The Bank is chartered for the village with a capital of 
$50,000. Robins singing. 

July 13 — Funeral this afternoon of Mr. Murdock's child. 

Aug. 27 — Last night we were alarmed at midnight by the ringing of 
the church bell and the cry of tire. Elder Small's house and stable with 
much of his furniture were entirely consumed. It is supposed the fire 
was set by an incendiary. Mr. Smalll and his wife were at Yarmouth at- 
tending an association meeting. 

Aug. 28 — INIoses Thomes moves into our chamibers at a rent of $9 per 
quarter. Mr. Small, wife and child returned home to .•ind their house in 
ashes and they put up with us. The people met last eve and subscribed 
$445 towards rebuilding them a house. 

Sept. 18 — The condition of this village at present i? not so promising 
as it has appeared at some earlier periods. There is no considerable 
money invested in useful manufacturing. The business of the place is 
limited to a few retail stores and common mechanic shops. The R. R. 
has passed into the hands of creditors. It has cost the people here over 
$50,000. It is now beyond redemption and the rails may be taken up 
which would leave us in a worse condition than before the road was 
built. 

Sept. 29 — We are preparing to start on a visit to E. Boston to stay 
for the fall and winter with our children. 



1S57. - 

July 15 — Commencement day at Cambridge. John Davis graduated 
the 4th in his class for the whole course — ^the 2nd for the Senior year. 

Aug. 17 — John Davis starts for Westford, Mass.. where he will com- 
mence his engagement as principal of the academy there. 

1858. 

May 28 — Virgil D. Parris appointed Xaval Store Keeper at Ports- 
mouth, N. H. 

June 7 — Home from Mass. Rode from Mc Falls in a wagon 2\^ 
miles, then on a hand car to the village. 

June 9 — Some of our old acquaintances have died during our absence. 
Old !Mr. Benj. Spaulding, one of the fathers of the town and first settlers. 
90 years old, whom I have known from my childhood, a most excellent 
old man, died last winter. Don D. Daggett and old Mrs. Caleb Cushman, 
old acquaintances, died in our absence. 

June 13, Sunday — Xo meeting for religious worship. Mr. Small is ab- 
sent. Mrs. Haskell, a Spiritual medium, preaches at Union Chapel. 
Many go to hear the deluding and deluded creature. Reed, a letter yes- 
terday from Samuel F. Brown. Esq., of Bangor, one of the oldest and 
most cherished friends T have. We lived near neighbors in uninterrupted 
friendship and harmon\- for more than 30 \-ears. 



HISTORY OF BUXKFIELD 505 

June 17 — •\\'cnt to see my father who is now ahiiost 88 years old. I 
called on my aunt. .Miles Holmes's widow, wlio is nearly 79 years old and 
very feeble. Yesterday I met James Waterman, one of the oldest in- 
habitants of the town. He lived 4 miles from the village. He was walk- 
ing spryly along with a cane. He talked in a lively and intelligent man- 
ner. I asked him how old he was. He said he was 94 this year. 'Al- 
most as old as my mother," said Mr. Churchill who was standing near 
us and who lives under Streaked Mt. Many persons in this town live to 
a great age. 

June 19 — Mr. Small called in llie evening. He has a call to preach in 
Ilangor. 

June -'7 — Very warm. Attended church. Mr. Small preached elo- 
(luently. At noon 4 or 5 persons were baptized, among whom were Will- 
iam At wood and w^ife. 

Jidy 5 — Xo notice of the Anniversary here. ^Ir. Andrews, the lawyer, 
has given me one of the pleasantest chaise rides I ever had. His estab- 
lishment for riding is most elegant and comfortable and I feel grateful 
to him for tlie enjoyment it has afforded me. 11 years ago Mr. .'\ndrews 
came here, poor and almost a stranger, and commenced the practice of 
the law. under very discouraging circum^tances. He counted me a 
friend. He is now one of the lai"gest practitioners in the county. He is 
County Attorney and with a good wife is living in better style than any 
other man in the village. 

July 8 — The prospect is that the B. B. R. R. will not run any more. 
Tlie rails on some parts have been taken u]) — the bridges and sleepers are 
rotting. 

July 21 — There goes by in an old wagon, with a poor old lame horse, 
a poor old lame man with a wooden leg — 78 years old — who comes once 
a week to the village to peddle herrings which he brin.gs from Harpswell, 
40 miles away. He sits up erect, chirrups to bis old nag — looks smiling — 
as he asks this one or that one to purchase bis fish as he turns their 
broad, fat sides to the best advantage. Now this poor man is of the same 
age as the celebrated Humbolt. who is remarkable for the retention of 
his faculties and his cheerful application of them to scientihc research. 
He is now completing a great work entitled Cosmos. Why is not this 
poor old herring peddler who is winding up his long life of obscurity, 
penury, misfortune and toil, working patiently and cheerfully for his 
l)read tu tlie last, in a humble 1)ut honest calling as worthy of mention 
as Humbolt? 

Aug. 9— Zadoc, John Havis and Percival started with a merry com- 
l>any — .-\rtemas Cole, Captain, for the Lakes, some 80 miles away on a 
iishing trip. 

.\ug. 2.^ — A{fr. Small leaves Huckiield to-day to settle in Bangor as 
pastor of a Baptist church there. 

Aug. 25 — School children have a picnic in Atwood's Grove — a very in- 
teresting occasion. John Davis begins his 2nd year at Westford. .\rt. 
Cole called to-day to have a letter from some Rochester. X. H., gentle- 
men, inquiring about the Lakes answered. They v.'anted him to take 



50t5 HISTORY OF BUCK FIELD 

charge of party who are going there. He is a sort of a Leather Stocking 
of the woods and lakes — a noted character and another L^aak Walton in 
his skill, experience and fondness for angling. Mr. Cole, Uncle Art., 
Capt. Cole, Art. Cole as he is variously called, is a man who by great 
industry and rigid economy acquired $15,000. He belongs to no society, 
attends no cliurch, reads ancient history, is thoroughly acquainted with 
Bible history and is a good mathematician. He has fished every year 
more or less at the Lakes for more than 20 years. Some seasons he has 
caught and sent to the Boston market many hundred Inie fat trout weigh- 
ing from I to 10 lbs. 

Sept. 15 — A new comet has made its appearance in the heavens. It 
looks like a kite in the far northwest. 

Sept. 26, Sunday — Xo preaching. The Baptist Society small. Mem- 
bers meet, read and sing. Isaac Bearce and daughter. ]\Irs. Emily 
Gleason, visited us. She is my deceased sister, Bathsheba's daughter, 
who lives in the town of Perry. She is a very smart young woman. She 
was awarded the highest prize, $40. at the State Fair at Augusta last 
week in the exliibition of horsemanship or horsewomanship. This 
equestrian cxhilntion was the most interesting feature of the fair. 10,- 
000 people present. 

Oct. 3. Sunday — Xo preaching. .\ sermon will be read. Few attend. 
Our little church bell rings nTournfully and calls up the memory of sor- 
rowful changes which Jiave iiappened to us — the removal of our minister 
and many a dear friend. 

Oct. 8 — Clear and pleasant after the rain. Picketl up one large spice 
apple that has remained some time alone upon the tr^e, after all the rest 
had fallen and been gathered. The tree is much respected on account of 
its age — its early and excellent fruit. It is probably the oldest apple tree 
in Buckfield. Its trunk girts 6J/2 ft. and its branches are of correspond- 
ing si.'^e and spread. It bears some years 30 bushels of apples. It has 
probably produced since it began to bear not less than 1000 bushels. 

X'ov. I — The Baptist Church Society has given Mr. Pray a call to sup- 
ply Mr. Small's place in tlie pulpit. 0\lr. P. appears to be a very pious 
and amiable man — a graduate of Harvard — 36 years old, of infirm health. 
He has a wife and 3 children and will preach for a salary of $.400. Bap- 
tist people here generally poor. 

Nov. 7 — X'athan Morrill and Carroll Loring spend the evening with 
us. Danville Bisbee died this afternoon. 

X'^ov. 17 and iS — L^niversalist convention to-day at Union Chapel. 

X'^ov. 21, Stmday — Pleasant as summer. Ground bare. X'^o preaching 
in the village. A sermon is read at the Baptist church and the Universa- 
lists meet at Union Chapel to see about reviving religions worship in 
that house. Perliaps it would be well that this should be done. A very- 
large proportion of the people will not attend the Baptist meetings, pre- 
judiced against the exclusivcness of regulations and the doctrines they 
preach. If more liberal worship be not established here, they will follow 
after spiritualists or stay at home on the Sabliatli. I tliink it would be 
honorable and profitable to this community to substitute enlightened Uni- 



HISTORY OF BUCK FIELD -,07 

versalist preaching for that of trance mediums, who have been here and 
have had large attendance the year past. While Mr. Small was here and 
before tliis delusion appeared, I felt it to be my duty to give my un- 
divided support to the Baptist Society. I having been somewhat instru- 
mental in getting Mr. Small here and believing though far from being a 
Baptist, that it was the best thing I could do for the general religious 
interests of Buckfield. Mr. Small has taken himself away, giving us 
liberal Christians — outsiders as we are called — to understand by his fare- 
well sermon that the church and society, wliich he had established here 
can stand and be supported without our help, thus releasing us from any 
obligations to give them our continued and exclusive aid. 

Dec. 5 — John Davis attended Baptist Church a. m. and went in the 
afternoon to hear Rev. Mr. French, L'niversalist. at Union Chapel. 

Dec. 12 — Church bell tolling for Mr. Richard Fobcs. Mr. 1". was 
buried at East meeting house. 

Dec. 24 — Joseph Tuttle died this a. m. 

1859. 

Feb. 14 — Jacob W. Browne, Esq., married to Widow Bisbee. 

]\Iar. 5 — Percival and his daughter, Margaret, start for Boston at half 
past 8 o'clock in an old lumber wagon, drawn by an old feeble, worn- 
out horse — the meanest stage team that ever went out of the village. 
What a reduction in our accommodations for travel in 2 years from the 
time we were carried to and fro in a liandsome passenger car propelled 
by a $10,000 engine. 

Mar. 6 — Mr. Pray preached a funeral sermon for Ephraim Ricker. Jr. 

Mar. 7 — Annual town meeting. The Democrats elect their candidates 
by large majorities. 

Mar. 16 — A child of Ephraim Atwood's died last night of canker rash. 

Mar. 20 — Funeral in the afternoon of Orville Bridgham's child at 
l^nion Chapel. It died of canker rash. This disease appears to assume 
a more malignant form as its prevalence continues. 

Mar. 2Q — A powerful rain. Grist mill dam carried away. 

.\pr. 10 — Funeral of Orville Bridgham's child. 

Apr. 22 — Elder Seth Stetson is with us. He is 82 years old and is 
as spry as a boy — walks 6 miles at a stretch — preaches at different places. 

Apr. 24 — Father Stetson preaches at Union Chapel. 

June 6 — We had a destructive frost last night. Ground in my garden 
froze J/2 inch deep. 

June 12 — Another frost last night. 

June 19 — F"uneral of Mr. Waldron. 

July I — Our mail by order of Government will come but ,^ times a 
week. 

July 4— Mr. V. D. Parris called to see me. He brought a flag that 
belonged to the U. S. Frigate Constitution in time of the last war. It 
is now flying in the strong X. W. breeze between E. .Atwood's and Mr. 
Loring's stores. 



508 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

July 2Q — ^We have a daily mail again by private contribution for pay 
for extra carrying. I pay $4 per year. 

Aug. 4 — The people here are interested in the maiter of enlarging and 
fencing and putting into respectable condition our burying ground. A 
corporation is being formed denominated the Buckfield Cemetery Cor- 
poration, in order to proceed legally in this contemplated project. 

Aug. 13 — John Davis returned from the White Mts. last eve and ar- 
rived on foot about g o'clock. He was gone from home but 2 days. He 
made a quick trip of 90 miles and back in 36 hours and a niglit spent on 
Mt. Washington, walking 15 miles on his way home. 

Aug. 22 — Started with my wife and John Davis for Winchendon. 

Nov. 15 — Mr. America Farrar is confined at Buckfield by paralysis. 

Dec. 3 — The church bells are tolling for the martyrdom of John 
Brown. Henry Ward Beecher says that a man who would not help a 
fellow creature flying for his liberty is either a villain or a politician. 

i860. 

Apr. 25 — Mr. Noah Hall called to see his brother. He is 80 years old 
and his wife 75. They have a farm, keep 2 good cows and make butter 
and cheese to sell. Mr. Hall is vigorous and spry and works every day. 
He tells me he had a party of neighbors at his house, a few days ago, 
consisting of 6 including himself and wife whose united ages were 497. 
Noah Hall, 80; wife, 75; James Waterman, 95; Mrs. Lewis, 89; Mr. 
Gammon, 79 ; wife, 79. 

May 5 — The town has a meeting this p.m. to see if the people will 
vote to loan the credit of the town to the amount of $15,000 to put the 
B. B. R. R. in running order. 

May 16 — I look out of my window and see a man on the bridge who 
is 93 — Mr. James Morrill who says he works in the field every day. 



i 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 509 

ABIJAH BUCK'S DIARY. 



Abijah Buck, His Book 1760 
God give him grace therein to Look. 



New Gloster, November the 25, 1760, m\- mother died. December the 
10, 1760, I came home from Crown Point. January the 3, 1761, my 
father died and left us both motherless and fatherless. 

New Gloster, Sept. the 25, 1762. we were married (wife Phebe Tyler). 
Elizabeth was born July the i, 1763. Ellen was born January the 8, 1765. 
Phebe was born the 17 day of December, 1766. John was born the 22 
day of December, 1768. Rebecca was born the 15 day of December, 1772. 

Bucktown, April the I, 1776,* Abijah was born the i day of }ilarch, 
'^777-* Jonathan was born the 5 day of February, 1782. 

Buckneld, August 17, 1816, Phebe Buck my wife departed this life. 

Lake George June the 9 1760. 
Orders that I had from the Captain: 

To 1 order 

To 1 order 

To 1 order 

To 1 order 

To 1 order 

To 1 order 

To Lawful money 



Due to Captain Nathaniel Ingersoll, the sum of 

Lawful money 
To 1 lb. Chocolate 
To 2 lb. Sugar 
To 1 lb. Sugar 



£ 


s. d. 





3 





6 


1 


5 10 





18 





« 




October the 22 





9 




Nov. the 3 





12 


J 


uly the 27 17(50 




£ s. d. 




3 8 11 




3 e 




2b 




19 



New Gloster June the 10 day 1765 
Work for ;Mr. Foxcraft: — 
To Vz day's work digging cellar 
To work upon the Flume, 

To 1 days work 

To 1 day's work upon the roads 

To work with the surveyor 

To 10 day's work 

Bucktown ]March the 4 1777. 

Beginning this town at that time. 



£ 


s. d. 


1 


5 


New Gloster June the 17 day 


1765 



Credit for Benjamin Spaulding for work done upon the roads and 
money pay'd for charges. 

*Evidentlv errors. Should be vear later. 



510 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

To 10 days work at 4 s p d 
To money paid for charges 
To money & work 
To Running out his Lot 



2 





U 





7 


4 





13 








6 





4 


yr 17 


77 


£ 


s. 


d. 


3 


12 


U 





7 


4 


1 


S 


(1 


u 


6 








3 


(1 


'1 


4 





II 


6 






Bucktown March the 4 
Credit for Abijah Buck 

To IS day's works at the roads 

To Money for the first charges — the Petition 

To 7 day's work on the roads 

To ^Money for charges 

To Money tor charges 

To 11 days work at the roads 

To Running out his lot 

Similar entries for Xathaniel Buck, Thomas Allen. John Brown, 
Jonathan Tyler, Moses Buck, Jonas Cobtirn, William Doble and John 
Buck. 

Sharon (We.'it Buttei field) May the 17 yr 1778 

Credit for David Reckard 
To 351-^ days work at 8 Dollars per month 

Bucktown November the 8 yr IV 79 
We held a meeting and voted 20 paper dollars to a right 
— 1 — 4 lawful money, which was paid lo iM r. But- 
terfield 280 Dollars paper money which is IS 8 u 

The next I went to Falmouth to Esq. Freeman's to get the Petition 
wrote and to sign it. Was four days upon the journey. Time and ex- 
pense I — 3 — 0. 

Bucktown, April the 6, 1780. 

The first time that T went to Boston to get our Petition granted, 
was gone from home 28 days. The Proprietors voted me 4 shillings or 
a bushel of rye a day, and 3 shillings a day for expense — whidi was 
9—16 — 0. Then I settled with Col. P]ancraft and Mr. Butterfield at Bos- 
ton and pay'd them i — 16 — in hard cash, which was the balance at that 
time. 

Bucktown September the 16-1781 

Debtor to Dr. Child 
To 1 visit to my wife 
To 1 visit to Father Tyler 
To 1 portion of physic 
To charge for Father Tyler 

To coming for John 

Bucktown, September the 8, 1785. 
To work with the surveyor, running Bucktown lines. 7 days works, 
and to running Butterfield town lines 7 days with the surveyor. To 
charges by the surveyor and his hand for keeping two horses 16 days, 
and to stores to the value of 6 shillings and to 21^. gallons of "Rum. 
This is for the two towns to pay between them. 

Bucktown, October the 4, 1785. 
T went with Mr. Jordan surveying the town. I was 7 days at 5 s. per 
day I — 15 — o. To keeping the acct. for the Proprietary from time to time 
— 6 — 0. 






12 


8 





14 


4 





1 


4 





3 


4 


1 


11 


8 





14 


3 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 511 

I'ucktown. Xoveml)cr the 7, 1785. 
My second journey to Boston. W'c were ixnnt^ 16 days. Was voted 
4 shillings a day for expns. and 3 shillings a day for our time, wliich 
was 5 — 12 — o. Our passage was 6 shillings apiece. Our horses were 10 
days upon tlie journey. Their expense was 3 shillings a day i — 6 — 0. 

Buektown. January the _'4. 1786. 
1 went to Wells to see Esqr. Wells, as to liow to proceed ahout the 
purchase (of the township). Was gone 5 days. Time and expense 

Buektown, I'ehniary tlie 27 yr. 1786. 
Tlie third time I went to Boston, upon the Proi)rietors' business. T 
was gone 2/ days, for which my expenses and time amounted to 
10 — I — 0. 



ACCOUXT OF HIS JOURXEV. 

Tlie first day I traveled to Xew Gloster. The next day I went to 
North Varmoutli. The first day of March. I went to Falmoutli, and 
there agreed for my passage to Boston. The second day of March was 
stormy, which was bad for my journey. The third day was also stormy, 
which left me waiting for my passage. The 4 day, the wind was against 
us, but we are in hopes of sailing tonight. The 5th day, not gone yet. 
Most out of patience. The wind seems to promise fair, so I am in hopes 
we shall sail tonight. The 6 day, we are making preparations for saihng 
tonight. The 7 day, we arc still waiting for the moving of tlie wind and 
the weather. The 8 day, we keep looking out for a favorable wind, but 
we are very weary. The g day we have a fair wind at last. This 
the 10 day, we had a fine passage to Boston — a good run of it. This the 
II day. we went to see Esqr. Wells, but being full of Inisiness, 1 could 
do nothing. Tliis the i-' day is Sunday. This the 13, day tlie General 
Court agreed tliat the Settlers should have 100 acres apiece. Tliis the 
14 day, very dull ; nothing done. The conunittee has so much work on 
their hands, they can't do anything for us yet. Tliis the 16 day, 1 
agreed witl: the committee to have the papers drawn. This tlie 17 day, 
I got the papers wrote and signed. This the J 8 day, 1 got ready to go 
home, and sailed about midnight, with a fair wind. This the 19 day, 
we are at sea with a dull wind which obliged us to put into Marble- 
head. This the 20 day, it looked so much like a storm, that we hove up 
and went to Salem for a liarbor. This the 2\ day, we layd in Salem 
I'.arbor. This the 22 day, we hove up and stood over to Cape Ann, and 
there we raised a breeze and at niglu came to sail witli a gootl wind. 
This the 2S day, we are at sea, with a fine bree/e which brought us to 
Falmouth. This the 24 day. T came from I'alnKnith to Xew Gloster. 
This the 25 dav, 1 came from Xew Gloster home most tired out. 



512 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 






NOTES ABOUT THE \VE.\THER. ETC. 

Bncktown, October the 23 yr 1785. 
More than a common freshet, that swept away mills and bridges, to 
a great damning. (Damage). 

Bucktown, January the 2 yr. 17S6. 
An Earthquake was heard this morning before Sun-rise. 

Bucktown, April the 2 yr. \^J'&^. 
A smart Snow Storm for this time of year. The 7 day a Smart Rain 
Storm that made a large freshet. 

The i8th day November, 1786. 
From that time to the 14 day of December one continual frost. 

The 9 of April, 1787. 
A Smart Thunder Shower. 

Bucktown. March the 19, 17S9. 
The committee being on tlie proprietors business ruling tlie Settlers 
names on the plan of the town. 

Bucktown June the S 1790 
Went to New Gloster to acknowledge deed £ 12 

Went to York to see Esq'r Wells 15 

To my horse 12 

Went to Boston 22 days at 3 s. 3 6 

Horse for the journey 1 IH 

Money pay'd to acknowledge deed 
Money pay'd for one quire of paper 



Bucktown l>ecember the 15 17!)0 
This day Settled with John Clay and finding his due £ f> 

Boston January 27 1792. 
Pay'd to the States Com. £ 120 ti B 

Bucktown March the 12 1792 
Five pounds seven shillings and nine pence was left after 

paying for the town, £.5 7 9 

Received of Mr. Hubbard 3 8 

Received of Thomas Lowell 13 

Received of Simon Record ti 



7 


\ 





(1 


10 


n 





1 


4 



9 13 9 

Eben'r Bancraft's account against Buck's Proprietary is £ 11 12 



For value Received I promise to pay unto Abijah Buck, or his order, 
the sum of Eighteen Shillings, to be paid in Casli or Corn, at the market 
price, at or before December next ensuing the dale hereof, as witness 
my hand. 

October the 12th 1785 

Joel Foster 

In 1789 and 1790, there were items entered in the book, showing that 
Abijah Buck sold hay and corn in considerable quantities to the settlers. 
Also other articles, from which it might be inferred, that he was at that 
period, a trader in a small w^ay. 

Mr. Spaulding's work upon Col. Bancraft's opening: 

//// 'mill 'iiiiiiiiiiii 'III 1 1 '1 1 1 II III 
II nil mil I 'iiiiiii 'I mm 'iimiiimi 

Abijah Buck's work: 

/////// 'lllll 'IIIIIII 1 1 'III I 'lllllllll ' 

II 'I III 'lllllllll I 'lllll 'mill II V - 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD olB 



REMINISCENCES OF MAJ. LUCIUS LORING. 



Ill Xoveniljt'r, 18S7, Major Lucius Loriu^^' was iutcrvicwcd by a rep- 
resentative of the Oxford Democrat and asked to give his reminiscences 
of men and afi'airs in Buckfield in early times, which he did as follows ; 

"I shall be 93 years old if I live until the 27th day of December. I 
have seen cio Independence Days. I remember things that occurred 60, 
70 or 80 years ago, better than I do things wliicli liave happened within 
a year. Sometimes I forget these more recent dates and so, for the past 
15 years I have kept a journal or memorandum, i have lived in Buck- 
field 83 years, last Marcli. My father, 'Old Squire Loring' as he was 
called for many years, was born upon the Connecticut river, in the town 
of Hatfield, Mass. When he was 12 years old he went to Bridgewater. 
His father died when he was but four years old and he went to live 
with an uncle. My father found friends in Bridgewater and was enabled 
to go to school and get an education, and afterwards he taught school 
himself. He married my mother there. She was a Barrelle. The late 
Pascal Barrelle of Hartford was her father. Father came from Bridge- 
water to Turner about 93 years ago. I fix the date, l)y the age of my 
oldest sister, the late ]\lrs. James Jewett, who would have been 92 last 
September, had she lived. She was born the year after father moved to 
Turner. I was born in Turner, and came to Buckfield when I was about 
7 years old. My father helped settle tlie first minister in Turner, old 
Parson Strickland. 1 remember him well for I was old enough to go to 
meeting considerably, before we moved away from there. He wore a 
great wdiitc wig, and a three cornered hat. ***** When .my 
father came to Buckfield, he Iniilt a little stitre just above where the 
Randolph Thomes store stands now. I'"athe'" cut a\va\" the alders ;ind 
put up a store 25x25 feet, and that was the only building at that time 
on that side of the bridge, except the old Cai)t. Parris stand. Where 
the streets on that side are now, was all an alder swamp. Logs were 
laid in thick in the mud to make a road irom the end of the bridge 
near where Rawson's drug store now is, to the foot of what lias since 
been called Loring's Hill. I suppose it took its name from my fatlier. 
as it had no name to my knowledge, when we came here. The business 
was all on tlie other side of the river then, and people laughed at fatlier 
for building a store where he did and said he never would have a cus- 
tomer over there. Old Squire Record owned about all the land around 
Buckfield village at that time and the saw and grist mills. He was one 
of the proprietors of the town. The first grist mill ever built in Buck- 
field was erected by a man by tlie name of Chandler, and it stood down 
wdierel" the saw mill is now. 

"My father used to run a mill here for the manufacture of cards. 
In those days every woman had to have cotton cards, wool cards an<l 
tow cards. Father made the wooden backs and they were sent to Bos- 
ton and teeth put into them by hand. T have packed up thousands of 



514 HISTORY OF BUCKF]ELD 

them, when a boy. ^Ve used to haul them to North Yarmouth and put 
them aboard the packet for Boston. Prices were low in those times. 
Then and for a long time after, the very best of help could be hired for 
$.50 a day and dinner. It cost ns $1.00 a hundred to get goods from 
Portland, and it was a hard busine^s for the teamsters at that price. 
One could liuy a good team horse for $50.00. "" * * * * \i ^]^^ 
time father came to Buckticld all the business was on the north side of 
the river. Uncle Ben Spaulding had a store on that side, and the house 
John Russell now lives in opposite Mr. Whitten's is the identical build- 
ing which was Uncle Ben's store. It was afterwards moved across the 
river and converted into a dwelling house. It sat near where tlie 
Artemas F. Cole stand does now. 

"Old Major Mark Andrews was the first trader here. He married 
Capt. Josiah Parris's sister. He used to luring his dry goods up from 
Portland on a horse in saddle bags. He moved to Winthrop and finally 
to Albany-, New York, where he had a married daughter and I think 
died there. He made $30,000 in Buckheld. He said he never sold a 
thing unless he got twice at least what he paid for it. He kept no ledger. 
The people were poor, and would sell their corn in winter to him at $.42 
a bushel, and exchange it for goods at his high prices, and in the sum- 
mer he would sell this corn for $1.00 a bushel to people coming in from 
the West to take up new lands. *>:=*** 

"That looking glass (pointing to a very handsome and well pre- 
served gilt frame glass of the olden style) was my mother's. It came 
from Boston. She used to keep it in the spare room — and a spare room 
wasn't used except on very rare occasions. People now-a-days have 
changed in that respect very much. When I was a boy, a parlor wasn't 
considered well furnished unless it had a bed in it, with a handsome 
c;uilt, and the few who could afford such a luxury had a bureau. The 
people didn't go into luxuries much in those days. Why, the north room 
m the Prince house where I lived. Was the first room that was ever 
painted in Buckfield. We had to send to Waterford for a painter. His 
name was Robie. It cost $30. to paint that room. The first wall paper 
ever used in Buckfield was put on to two front rooms in the old tavern 
where the Atwood & Spaulding store now stands, which Zadoc Long 
and myself hired and fitted up when we were married. Those rooms 
were considered wonders then. * * '■' * * 

"My father, Capt. William Lowell, and Uncle Thomas Long were 
about all the Federals there were in Buckfield when I was a young man. 
Rouse Bisbee, who moved from Buckfield to Woodstock, was the only 
Federalist in that town for many years and the people would 'hoot' 
liim when he went to town meeting. He once at Portland was given a 
suit of clothes by some of the people there for standing by his colors. 
Rouse was an uncle of Capt. Lewis Bisbee of Sumner, whom all Buck- 
field people knew. Dr. Hamlin, the first clerk of the courts in the 
county, at whose place I boarded one winter when attending school, was 
also a Federalist, but some people called him a 'tory.' The Federalists 
you know were opposed to the War of 1812. * * * * * 



» 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 515 

"Wlien I was nine j-ears old, I rode horseback to Portland. Father 
had a two wheeled chaise and lie and mother were going to Bridge- 
water on a visit. As they had the old horse I was given the four-year-old 
colt. I remember the journey well. Father came out as far as the Deer- 
ing bridge and pointed me towards home, with directions to stop at 
Gray Corner over night. I got there about three o'clock and had my 
horse unsaddled and put up, and went into the tavern and sat down. 
Soon I began to feel homesick. My grandfather Barrelle lived in Turner, 
and I made up my mind to go there instead of staying where I was over 
night. 1 ordered my horse saddled and put along quite lively. At ii 
o'clock that night I reached grandfather's. ***** | was a 
student at Hebron Academy four years. I boarded with old Deacon 
Barrows, and paid $1.25 per week for board and washing. I had always 
lived in a village and had rather a hard time of it. Elijah Hamlin and 
Dr. Bethuel Gary, who died in Sumner, were in my class. Young men 
used to go there in the fall and fit themselves to teach school. We had 
larger schools in those days and always had a big exhibition at the close 
of the term. ***** 

"Old Judge Parris, Capt. Parris's brother and father of Gov. .-Mbion 
K. Parris, was quite a man in those days. He lived in Hebron and was 
judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was very much of a gentleman 
in his appearance and a man much respected. ***** When my 
father came to Buckfield they had no schoolhouse in the village, and 
only had a school a little while in the summer. It was taught in a 
chamlier in Uncle Ben Spaulding's house. The teacher had no educa- 
tion. She could read a little, but couldn't write a word. She came from 
Massachusetts though, and that was all the qualification needed as most 
of the people thought. She used to get us boys to write her letters to her 
friends in ?klassachusetts. ***** \ly father was in trade in 
Buckfield about 20 years and I traded here about 40 years. Father was 
a very enterprising man, ambitious to go ahead and do a large business. 
He never saved much money though, but he got a good living and 
educated his children. He was a very dressy man, and wore knee 
breeches and silk stockings, russet top boots, blue broadcloth clothes with 
brass buttons. I've heard him say that the last time he was in Portland 
he saw the boys pointing at his boots from across the street. 

"When 1 went into trade, we took little or no money. We took oats, 
Ijeans, peas, butter, tow cloth, flannel cloth, etc. Why I have taken three 
and a half tons of butter in a single summer and autumn at ten cents a 
pound. It was hard getting anything out of it at that price. We used 
to get a big profit on our goods and that helped out. For two or three 
years after Ralph Jewett and I went into trade together, we sold $20,000 
a year of dry goods. We had customers from up as far as Jay and from 
over to Paris Cape. We built what is called the Loring store the year that 
the railroad was built, and it cost us $1600. The first year we paid for 
tlie store, supported two families, and in addition to this a net profit of 
$2,600. That's the best business 1 ever did in a single year. We bought 
prints in Boston at ten cents a yard and sold for a shilling. Yes, the 



516 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

farmers sold their produce cheap and paid high prices for goods, but 
they got rich then faster than now. There was Ira Gardner, who made 
$12,000 on the farm where Cy Dean lives now. Interest was higher then; 
we got twelve per cent. The farmers worked and that wasn't all they 
calculated. ^ly mother used to say, 'There's a good deal in calculation,' 
and I've found it so in my experience and observation. The people then 
had no expensive habits. They didn't go into luxuries, and were frugal 
and saving. Their dress and living w^as plain. Lewis Sampson and 
Ephraim Lowe used to work for my father at $8 per month, and both 
left good farms and money at interest. ***** When Ralph 
and I w^ent into trade Ara Cushman had a little cobbler's shop at West 
]\Iinot where he used to take sole work to be made up. Xow he employs 
some 600 hands at his factory in Auburn and is very wealthy. Ralph 
and T used to put out such sole work to these little door yard cobble shops, 
which were quite plenty in those days. But the business didn't paj^ any- 
thing to speak of then, and we went out of it. It was just the wrong time, 
and we made a great mistake, for the business came up right off, and 
those who stuck to it made money. I see that E. F. Packard of Auburn 
has recentiv died. He was born in this village, in the Parsons house." 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 517 



OREN RECORDS DEPOSITION. 



On the 3d day of March, 1827, Oren Record, oldest son of Dominicus 
Record. Esq., then of Sangerville, Maine, gave a deposition to be used in 
a suit brought by Dr. William Bridgham against Richard Waldron. The 
south boundary line of lot No. 12, 7 Range, in the vicinity of the river 
near the village being in controversy and the occasion for the suit. What 
he stated, which gives us a pen picture of the vicinity around the village 
in the early days, is as follows: 

I Oren Record, being: 53 year.s of age testify and say that I have lived 
in the town of Bucktteld from the time I was 10 years old till the year 
1822, at which time I moved to the town of Sangerville, and during that 
period I was well acquainted with the situation of the lot lines, within 
a mile or more, in any direction from Buckfleld Village. That I have 
been more particularly acquainted with my father Dominicus Record's, 
Isaac Foster's and Edmund Chandler's settling lots, and the mill priv- 
ilege and the public lands near to. I have known the line between the 
minister lot and State lots about 30 years. The first information I 
received respecting this line was from 'Squire Abijah Buck. The next 
from my father 'Squire Record, who showed it to me. Afterwards it was 
shown me by Joel Foster, who then lived on the lot west of the State lot. 
I have been on this line many times. The line ran easterly with Joel 
P^oster's northerly line, and about 20 rods south of where John Irish's 
house now stands. I have seen this line since the Great Fire of 1816 
ran over jt. * * * * * 

Joel Foster marked a line for a road from his house on his lot to the 
mills. I followed this line in company, with him at one time, which 
he told me he marked for his own convenience in going to the mills. 
I saw Foster with his axe at said mills, the day he marked the line. 
The reason I recollect it more particularly is, that I had so much shorter 
distance to go to Foster's, who was a shoemaker, to get shoes mended 
and made. 

The line began at Foster's opening, and crossed the South Pond 
brook, on the beaver dam, a little south of where the bridge now stands. 
Then after passing the beaver dam it turned to the north several rods, 
varying so as to keep on high or dry ground, and running a little south 
of where the Drake house stood, and where the John Irish now stands, 
and crossing the swamp brook a little south of where the bridge now 
stands, thence running south of the Chaftin house, thence crossing the 
Isaac Foster lot at the northwest corner of the mill privilege, thence 
by the river to the mill. * * * * » 

One Thomas Frazier lived with father, from the age of five or six 
years till he was 21. He was bound to father by the Selectmen of 
Baston. He used to drive my father's cattle to pasture. They were 
never driven to the land in the vicinity of the beaver dam. 

The land near said beaver dam was so covered with windfalls and 
thick growth that I should think it would be impossible that cattle could 
go through it. 

So far as I was acquainted with him, there was no reliance to be put 
in him as a man of truth and veracity. My father repeatedly whipt him 
for lying. 

The pen was drawn through tlic last two sentences. 



518 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



ARVILLA (SPAULDING) RECORDS LETTER. 



Aunt Arvilla ( Spaulding ) Record's letter v.ritten when she was 85 
to her relative, Airs. Lvdia E. Cole Doudass: 



1 

I 



Buekfleld, Me., Sept. 10, 1888. 
My Dear Lydia: 

It is but little that I know about the Spauldings but I am very glad 
to tell what I do know. 

Old Grandfather Benjamin Spaulding moved his family from Chelms- 
ford, Mass., here in the year 1778 or 1779. He was out in the French and 
Indian War. His family consisted at that time of six children, Patty, 
Rebecca, Benjamin (your grandfather), Leonard, Elizabeth and Esther, 
The next child he had after he came from the war was Abel, who was my 
father. I have been told that Grandfather Spaulding got in debt by be- 
ing a surety on another man's bond and left his family in Massachusetts 
and came here, then nothing but all woods and no human beings but In- 
dians. He came to hunt, as furs at that time, brought a great price. 
There were some inhabitants in a few places in this part of the country 
but not within many miles of where he built his camp, which was down 
by the river, on wha.t is now called Capt. Record's intervale. He hunted 
here two years. In the room of his being afraid of the Indians, they 
were afraid of him. One of them stole one of his traps. He gave out 
word among them that if the thief did not bring it back, he would kill 
him. A few days after the Indian returned the trap, saying: "Here 
jour trap Pauldin." I do not know where grandfather sold his furs but 
when he went back he paid all he owed anybody. Then he moved his 
family down here. 

My father was then two and one-half years old. His older sister told 
me they lived in the camp on the intervale where one child, Stephen, was 
born. Then he took up land and moved up where I was born. He owned 
land from Sumner town line to the river at North Buekfleld — all woods. 
In time he built a saw mill. I remember that mill. He built him a log 
house down near where the road is now. ' His youngest child. Thankful 
(Cushman)— Mrs. Cummings. who lives on Paris Hill, is her daughter— was 
born in that log house. ^Vhen grandfather had arrived with his family, 
old Squire Buck had taken up land where Col. White lived and moved 
his family there. Old Nathaniel Buck had come too and had taken up 
land where Elisha, his youngest son, lived. Then there was some kind 
of a grist mill at New Gloucester, so the people here had to do down 
there to mill and carry their grists on their backs, going and coming by 
spotted trees. If one settler got out of meal, the others supplied him till 
their own was gone. Moose were plenty and they were rarely out of this 
kind of meat. One time, grandfather had been to New Gloucester to mill 
and on coming home, found the other families nearly starved. He said: 
"Why did you not kill a moose?" Then he took his gun and went hunt- 
ing for one. He soon came back with one he had killed a little back of 
what we call Elisha Buck's orchard, which furnished many meals for the 
hungry ones. He wanted to see people have some ambition and never 
lacked himself that quality. He was a small man in stature, but he had 
a big heart and was good to the poor. He gained in property fast, 
cleared up his farm and raised wonderful crops and a large number of 
cows. If a poor man come along who had a large family, he would give 
him half a cheese or a bushel of corn. I remember seeing such people 
take such things away on their backs. He would often let them have 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 519 

meal when they had no money, but if thty liad. he wanted tliem to get 
what they wanted somewhere else. 

He knew what it was to be poor. He would not take medicine. He 
lived to be seventy-four and died of a fever. Grandmother Spaulding 
was one of the best women that ever lived. I lived with her from the 
time I was born until I was married and until she died, aged 77 years. 1 
must say I never saw her appear the least bit impatient in my life. It 
is said that she once rode from lUicklield to Boston on horseback. * * • 

Grandfather Spaulding and all his sons were firm I'niversalists and 
they lived it. They realized that Christ was the true vine and we the 
branches. 

From Your Aunt. 

ARVILLA SPAfLDlNG RECORD. 



520 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



Part III. 



GENEALOGIES. 



In Explanation. 

A town history without family statistics would not be 
accounted of much worth in these days, when there is so nuich 
interest in tracing lines of ancestry, and in the endeavor to find 
out to whom one is related. It is said by skilled genealogists 
that on an average, one in ten of our Americans of English stock 
might trace his ancestr}- to kings, yet wdiat true American would 
not rather be able to follow his family lines to the Pilgrim and 
Puritan fathers and mothers who founded this government and 
the Patriots of the Revolution by whose sacrifices American 
Independence was secured ? 

There must be very few indeed of Buckfield families, espe- 
cially of the olden time, that cannot or could not do tliis, and 
yet there are some at least who can even go back to kings. 

The lack of interest of many — some quite prominent per- 
sons — to furnish family statistics, has been a source of great 
regret and nuich -urprise, and in consequence of this, and that 
this part of the work had to be largely made up away from the 
town and town records, giving no opportunity for additions 
and correction, it is not so full and complete and free from 
errors as might be desired. The endeavor has been as a special 
feature, to trace the family lines as far back as possible, and 
it is believed that those who are or may hereafter be interested 
to connect their own families with those here given, or in trac- 
ing different or more ancient lines of their ancestry, will find 
in these statistics great encouragement and some assistance. 



Allex. 
Thomas Ai.lkn (see sketch) was one of the first two settlers 
in the township. Pie was born in England about 1752. He 
married, 1st, Abigail P>rown. She died Sept. 27. 1803; m. 2d, 
Dolly Picker. He died in Hartford in the latter part of the 
year 182^). Children all InU last by first wife: 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 521 

John, b. N. G., Aug. 8, 1775: m. Polly Clifford, s. in Hartford. 
Mary, b. Bucktield. Sept. 30, 1/77: '"■ Al)iah Leacli 
Abigail, b. Bucktield, Sept. is. 1779: ni. John Millett. Canton. 
Edmund, b. Bucktield. July 29, 1781 ; m. Ruth Bryant, s. in Hartford. 
Anna, b. Bucktield, Feb. 11, 1783; ni. Daniel Shaw, s. in Hartford. 
Esther, b. Buckfield. Apr. 2, 1785; m. Edmund Dean, s. in Paris. 
Thomas, Jr., b. Buckneld, Dec. 13, 1786; m. Xancy Cole. 
Sophia, b. Bucktield, Dec. 4, 1788; m. Nathaniel Tulibs. 
Ellen, b. Bucktield, Oct. 17, 1790; m. Job Ferry, s. in Paris. 
Xafhanicl, h. Bucktield, Jan. 27, 1793; ni. Polly Tinkhani, s. in Liver- 
more. 

George, b. Hartford, went to Ohio. Served in Mexican War. 

John Allkx, son of the preceding, b. Ang. 8, 1775 ; in. Polly 
Clifford. They settled in Hartford. Children recorded on the 
Buckfield records : 

Benjamin, b. Xov. 28. 1799: Tlinnuis. b. Dec. 11, 1801 ; Polly, b. Nov. 22, 
1804; Dolly, h. May <\ 1807. 

Edmund, brother of the preceding, b. Ittly 29, 1781 ; m. Ruth 
Bryant. They settled in Paris in 1804, where two of the r chil- 
dren were born. Removed to Hartford \vhere six of their 
chililren were born. Late in life returned to Paris where he died, 
"beloved and respected for his many sterling virtues." Child 
recorded on Buckfield records : 

Jonathan Tyler, h. Apr. 21, 1803: d. Feb. 1843. 

Samuel Ali.en with wife Ann — from Bridgewater, Eng- 
land, emigrated to Mass. perhaps with Gov. John W'inthrop's 
colony in 1630 and settled at I'raintree. The line from the 
American ancestor to the race of Aliens who settled in Hebron 
and afterwards moved into Ijuckfield is as follows : 

Dea. Samuel, b. 1632; m. Sarali Partridge. Josiah, b. 1677; m. Mary 
Reed, ll'illiam. b. 1726; m. .Susanna Packard. Ahel. b. 1760: m. Mary 
Dillingliani. 

J.vcoii, born abo:it I78r). Lib])eus, b. July 4. 1793. and 
Alpheus, b. about 1796, were carl}- settlers in llel:)ron. The two 
latter were brothers, and sons of Abel. The children of Libbeus 
and Joanna B. (Xash) Allen born in Hebron were: 

Amory H.. May 16, t8i6; m. Zilpha Cuslinian. 

Mary D.. April ir, 1818. 

Libbeus T., April 26, 1820; ni. Pauline Mun'.ock. 

IVilliain N., Oct. i, 1822; m. .Almcna Swctt. s. in Illinois. 

John Harrison, April 26, 1826: m. .\ugusta llill.oni. 

Hannah, Sept. 13. 1828. 

Charles A., Sept. (3, 1828: m. Melissa S. Cole. 



522 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Bernard B., ^Nlar. 26, 1831 ; m. Mary DeCoster. 

Mck'iii A.. April 26, 1835; m. Martha A. Thoiniv.son. The father died 
Sept. 9, 1872. His wife died Xov. 2, 1843. 

Amorv H. Allex. son of the preceding', b. !May 16. i8i6, 
at Auburn; m. Zilpha Cushman, dau. of Caleb and Mary (Buck) 
Cushman, in 1839. He was in trad.e in the vdlage for many 
years. In 1866 he removed to Illinois. Hi'< wife having died 
Xov. 17, 1865, he m. 2d, Feb. 8, 1870, Abigail Sampson of Tur- 
ner, Me. He died Jan. 3, 1903, at IJelvidere, 111. Children re- 
corded here : 

WiU'unii Ji'aHacc. b. May 21, 1841 : ni. Mary FJonney. 

Joanna B., h. Oct. 21, 1844; ni. Morri>. 

Walter F., b. .Tuly 18, 1849; m. DeCoster. 

Amory II. Jr.. h. July 28, 1853; m. Sarah R. Swail. He died Apr. 14, 
1872. No children. 

Frances, b. Oct. 13, 1855; tl. Sept. 18, 1862. 

Augusta, b. ; m. L. Ashton. 

Charles A. Allen, bro. of the preceding, b. Sept. 13, 1828; 
m. ]\Ielis.sa S. Cole. He was in business in Buckfield village for 
many years. He died ]\Iar. 19, 1878. Children : 

Liczie L., h. May 27, i86l 

Frank B., h. July 15, 1863. 

Charles /"., 1). Mar. 29, 1867; ni. Edna L. Holland. 

Nellie J'., b. June 21, i860: m. Geo. F. Alden. 

Williant C. L., b. July 4, 1874. 

Melvjn a. Allen, bro. of the preceding, b. April 2f\ 1835 ; 
m. Martha A. Thompson. He d. Nov. 27, 1879. Children: 

Edgar Leon, h. Feb. 12, 1864; ni. Lizzie Briggs. 

Robert Thompson, b. Apr. 2, 1867. 

AtwooI). 

The Atwood famili^es of lUickfield are among; the very first 
in town. They have been a race of merchants and have won 
both success anil respect by years of honorable deal. They trace 
their descent from Henry Atwood, the English emigrant, who 
was at Plymouth about 1640. He married April 25, 1^144. 
Abigail, daughter of John and Abigail (Carey) Jenney. She 
came with her parents in the Little James, of whxh her father 
was the principal owner, and was therefore <".ne of the Pilgrims. 

HENin Atwood and his wife settled in }*liddleboro. Pie died 
in 1670. The Ine of descent to Capt. Samuel Atwood. a Revo- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD o-iB 

lutionary soldier who, after the war, settled in Livermore, Me., 
in 1795, and was the father of the first Atwoods who came to 
Buckfield, is as follows: Henr\-, Abial, Abial. Lieut. Ahial. and 
Samuel. The latter was born in Berkley, Mass.. 1760. lie 
married Hannah Boyden. His death occurred at Livermore in 
18 16, aged 47. His wife died in 1854. aged 84. After liis death 
she had married ^Ir. James .\orton. 

Capt. Samuel Atwoou and his wife had a family of thirteen 
children : 

I. Joanna, d. 1868 ae. 79; m. Thomas Rich, 

ir. Hannah, m. Elias Morse. 

III. William Boyden. 

IV. Samuel, m. Sally Pierce. 
V. He~ehiali, m. Nancy Coflnn. 

VI. Rhoda. 

VII. Xathan, h. 1800; ni. Ruth H. Rogers. 

y\U. Henry S.. m. Sarah Coffin. 

IX. Hepsibah, b. 1806; m. Artemas F. Cole. 

X. Epliraim, b. 1808; m. i, Eliza Morrill, 2<1. .Adaline Whiting. 

XI. Eliza, b. 1810; m. Sidney Spaulding. 

Xil. BrittiUiia, d. in infancy. 

X I II. Lorenco, b. 1814; m. Lucy Harris. 

Xath.vn Atwood, born in Livermore in 1800, was the first 
of the name to settle in Buckfield and engage in trade. He 
married Ruth IL Rogers, a descendant of Rev. John Rogers, 
the Martyr of Smithfield. She was born in Berwick. Maine, in 
]\Iay, 1797, and lived to be 87 years old. At the time the census 
of 1850 was taken, she was in the family of Dea. William H. 
Atwood, who had married her daughter, Helen }\l. Atwood. 
then 23 years old. Her brother, Charles B. Atwood, was two 
years older. Nathan Atwood, their father, died in 1841, having 
earned a wide reputation as an able and upright business man. 

There were five Atwood families living in town in 1850. 
The heads of these families were Ephraim. Lorenzo. William 
H., Charles B., and Hezekiah, Jr. The four first were denom- 
inated traders by the census enumerator, and the last a miller. 

LoRF.NZO, born in 1814, ;ui(l who married Luc}' Harris of 
the same age, had two children, Harriet Josephine aged 13 and 
Eunice A. Atwood aged 11. The daughter. Eunice A. .\twood, 
became the wife of Capt. Charles H. Prince. H. Josephine died 
Eeb. 7. 1863. 



524 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Epiiraim Atwood, b. Oct. 2, 1808, m. i, Eliza A. jMorrill; 
2, Adaline Whiting. First wife died Jan. 29, 1850; 2d died 
iMay 4. 1872. He died April 4, 1891. Children by ist wife: 

.-Isa, b. ^lay 26, 1834 ; m. Augusta Dearborn. 

Emily, b. Dec. 7, 1835; d- Jan. 28, 1836. 

Emily, h. Dec. 17, 1836; m. C. Carroll Loring; d. Feb. 11, 1909. 

Frances, h. Jan. 11, 183Q; d. May 23, 1842. 

JVm. Wallace, h. Aug. 20, 1841 ; d. Oct. 7, 1882. 

Mary Ann, b. Oct. 2, 1843; d. Apr. 21. 1850. 

Florence A., b. Aug. 15, 1847; d. r^Iar. 26, 1850. 

Children by 2d wife : 

Charles B., b. July 10. 1851 ; m. Clara Goodrich of Mich., resides in 
California. 

Clarence, b. Jan. 26. 1854; m. j, Fannie Libby, 2 Anna ( Storer) Buck, 
resides in Auburn. 

Arthur C, b. Mar. 2J. 1856; m. Cora B. Cumnnngs, of Paris, resides 
in Auburn. 

Eugene, b. July 10, 1858; d. 'Mur. 16, 1859. 

Carrie A., b. May 3. i860; m. Edmund' Fogg, resides in Lewiston. 



Bennett. 

George Bennett, son of John and Lucy ( Bridgham) Ben- 
nett and grandson of Xathaniel and Hannah (Babson) Bennett 
of Xew Gloucester, was born in 1807. He married Augusta P. 
Cole in 1842 and opened a store in Buckfield near the bridge 
(now called the Rawson store), where he traded till 1859. He 
then bought a farm in the western part of the town on which 
he lived to his death. His wife ded about 1851 and he married 
2d, Lepha M. Pillsbury. He died in Feb., 1892, in his 84th year. 
Children by ist wife: 

F.miria L., b. Sept. 22. 1844; m. George R. Hannnond of Paris. 

George 0.. b. Nov. 13. 1846; m. Jennie R. Morse. 

Children by 2d wife : 

Frank, b. Aug. i, 1854; m. Mrs. Ellen Ripley. 

L/cj/r A., b. Oct. 28. 1856; m. Everett F. Bicknell. 

Dr. Annette, b. Mar. 17. 1858, s. in Norway. 

Fred, b. .\ug. 17. 1859: m. Lunetta ^lason. 

Dr. Herbert, b. Dec. .30, 1862; d. in Chicago in 1894. 

Carrie, b. July 27. 1862; m. J. H. Hamlin. 

Lena L., h. June 8, 1870. 

Etfie M., b. Mar. 28, 1873. 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 525 

Fred Bennett, son of the preceding, b. Aug. 17, 1859; m. 
Lunetta Mason. He resides on the homestead of his father. 
Children : 

Paul 2[., b. :\ray -'O. 18S7. Eiti^rnc H., b. Dec. 2, 1888. Rall>h 11., b. 
Aug. 2, 1891. 

Dr. Annette Bennett, daughter of George and Lcplia M. 
(Pillsbury) Bennett, was born in Buckfield, Mar. 17, 1858. 
After attaining a common school and academic education, she 
entered a homeopathic medical school in Chicago, where she 
graduated with honors. She settled in Norway, where she prac- 
ticed her profession with nuich success for many years. She 
took great interest in temperance matters and was one of the 
leaders of the W. C. T. U. organization. She was also one of 
the prime movers for the establishment of an Old Ladies Home 
in Norway, which existed for a few years and was then given 
up. She died about 1912. 

Berry. 

William Berry, the American ancestor of the Berrys of 
Buckfield, Paris and Woodstock, was one of a colony of fifty 
sent over from England by Capt. John Mason to settle N. H. 
They landed at the mouth of the Piscataqua river in 1631. He 
i? said to have been the first settter in Rye. His wife's name was 
Jane. Whether he was m. prior to his com.ing to America is 
not known. They lived at a place called .Sandy Beach. He was 
one of the grantees of Newbnry. Alass., where he probably 
removed about 1643. Having died, Jane, his widow, was ap- 
pointed administratrix of the estate. Slie m. 2d, Nathaniel 
Drake. Elizabeth, supposed to be one of their children, m. John 
Locke of Newcastle. He was ambushed and killed by the 
Indians in 1696 while reaping grain in his field. 

Capt. George Berry of Kittery, born about 1676, probably a 
grandson of the first William, m. Deliverance Llaley. Hi'^ son, 
George, Jr., b. in Kittery in 1706, m. in 1727 Elizabeth Frink. 
Fie was a ship-wright and had a ship yard at lUick Cove, Fal- 
mouth, now Portland. He was appointed Captain in the militia 
and given a roving commission to scour the country with a body 
of Indian fighters from the sea to Canada. Fie was promoted 
to major. "'He died in 177^), aged 70." Children: 



52() HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

George, h. abt. 1730; m. 1752, Sarah Stickney. 

Josiah, h. abt. 1734; m. Thankful Butler. 

Obadiah. b. Oct. 14, 1738; m. Lucy Torrey. 

EHzahctli, b. abt. 1741 ; m. Jeremiah Pote. a wealthy merchant and 
ship owner. He was a Tory and fled to the Provinces on the breaking 
out of the Revolutionary War. and never returned. His property- was 
confiscated. 

The oldest son of George Berry and wife Sarah Stickney 
was Dea. A\'i!liani Berry, born in Fahiiouth, ]^Iar. 6, 1753. His 
wife was Joanna Doane of Cape Elizabeth. He was an early 
settler in Buckfield. Dr. ^^'m. B. Lapham, a descendant in the 
genealogy of the family, states: "Mr. Berry was a resident in 
Bucktown prior to 1780." ^^'illiam Bicknell, a voluminous 
writer for the local papers, who probably heard it from the 
children of Deacon Berry, claimed that he settled here "13 years 
prior to the incorporation of the town." Tradition, therefore, 
fixes the event at about the same time. — 1780. 

It is also stated that the fifth child, William. Jr., b. Apr. 17. 
1783. was born in Buckfield. \\'illiam Berry's name is not on 
any of the early petitions for the purchase of the township. He 
did not obtain a settling lot, which he would have done had he 
been a permanent settler here Jan. i, 1784. A William Berry of 
Cape Elizabeth. Feb. i, 1791. conveyed land on Long Creek to 
Edward Doane. Nov. 2-^, 1783, John Rowe conveyed land in 
Bakerstown (Poland) to a \\'illiam Berry et al. of Bakerstown. 
In 1802 Deacon Berry purchased at two dififerent. times land of 
the heirs of James Thurlo on Xorth Hill. This was his home- 
stead for many years. There are no other conveyances to him 
of land in Buckfield that we have any record of. The Thurlo 
heirs appear to have had an interest in the Bakerstown land 
above spoken of. They conveyed it to one Samuel Jordan of 
Portland in 1803. That Deacon Berry was in Buckfield prior 
to his puchase of the Xorth Hill property is unquestioned, for 
his name appears on the census lists of 1790 and 1800. He 
probably lived there long before he obtained his deeds. He was 
one of the prominent citizens of the town and noted for his 
upright and sterling qualities. He was one of the prime movers 
in establishing the first Baptist church in town of which he was 
appointed one of its deacons. For several years he held the 
position of a member of the board of selectmen and assessors. 



HISTORY 01' BUCKFIELD 527 

lie died about 1824 at the aj;e of 71. They raised a family of 
1 1 children, all of whom grew up and had families of their own : 

Ma V, b. Falmouth, Feb. 22. 1775; ni. Lui'.ier Wliitnuin, s. in Wood- 
stock. 

Lc'vi,h. Falmouth, Apr. 2i^, i777'. "i- Lusannah Bryant, s. in Paris. 

Dorcas, b. Fabnoutli, June 1(1, 1779; m. Jacoli WMiitman, Jr., s. in 
Woodstock. 

Joanna, b. Falmouth, Mar. 11, i7!^i : ni. 1, Sam'l Briggs; 2(1, Rev. 
Xath'I Chase. 

U'illiaiii, Jr., h. .\pr. 17, 1783; m. Deborah Drake, s. in Paris. 

Elisabeth, h. Bucklield, June 1, 1785; m. James Ricker, s. in Hartford. 

George, b. Bucktield, July 30, 1787; m. Sally Swan, s. in Paris. 

Ohadiah, b. Bucktield, July 30, 1790; m. Abigail Ricker. 

Sally, b. Bucktield, June 9, 1792; m. Tobias Ricker, Jr. 

Remember, b. Bucklield, Dec. 22, 1794; m. John Swctt, Jr., s. in 
Turner. 

Dea. Zeri, b. Buckfield, Nov. i, 1797 m. Abigail Turner, s. in Canton; 
d. Apr. 19, 1885. 

On.\DiAH Berry, son of Dea. William, b. July 30, 1790; m. 
Abigail Ricker. His wife died Feb. 17. 1875. He died March 
2, 1875. Children : 

Lysander, b. March 19, 1815; m. Xancy Stannard. 

Harriet X., b. Apr. 2, 1817; m. Lewis Mason. 

Joan M.. b. March 15. 1819: d. May 7, 1S85. 

Charles H.. b. March 20. 1824; m. Cynthia S. Harris. 

Frcderiek, b. April 30, 1826: m. Sarah Corliss. 

John A., b. Jan. 28, 1830; m. Sarah Ricker. 

Cii.vRi.F.s H. Berry, son of the preceding, b. Mar. 20, 1824; 
m. Cynthia S. Harris. He was prominent in town affairs and a 
member of the board of selectmen, etc. He lived and died on 
the old homestead, respected by all who knew him. Children: 

Frederick, b. Auburn, Nov. 6, 1850; d. in inf.ancy. 

Charles F., b. Auburn, Feb. 24, 1854; m. Sadie H. Dearborn. 

Ida A., b. Auburn, Aug. 19, 1858; m. Oscar H. Hersey, Esq. 

Charles F. Berry, son of the precedmg, b. Feb. 24. 1854; 
m. Sadie H. Dearborn of Hartford. He lives on the homestead 
of his father. Child: 

Frank D., b. Feb. 7. 1886. 

Bessev. 
Capt. Alden Bessey, b. in 1807, came here from Paris in 
1866 and settled in the western part of the town. His wife was 
Laodicia Benson. His fatlier was Joseph Bessey of Middleboro, 



528 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 




^9m 



Everett M. Bessey 

Mass., who m. Lydia. dau. of John and Hannah (Cushman) 
Bessey. Captain Bessey acquired a large property at farming. 
He was prominent in the section of the town where he lived and 
served as a memher of the board of selectmen, as did also his 
son Alvin and grandson Xorman — a noteworthy occurrence. 
He died June 4, 1890. His wife died July, 1891. Children: 

. Marion Alden, b. July 21, 18.28; m. Josephine Waldron, s. in Paris. 
Flormda,h. Nov. 7, 1830; m. Aaron Cobb, s. in Hebron. 
Lydia, h. Mar. 14. 1833; ni. Shubal A. Baker. 
Mary H., b. Dec. 16. 1835 ; m. Au.oiistns Pearson. 
Fairfield, b. June, 1843; d. unm. 
Alvin S., h. Feb. 15. 1846; m. Alfaretta Turner. 
Annie, h. ^May, 1850; m. Frank Merrill. 

Al\jx Sturte\-axt Bessey, son of the preceding, b. Feb. 
15, 1846; m. Alfaretta Turner. He is one of Buckfield's most 
prosperous farmers. Children : 

Lora P.. b. Aug. 19, 1870: m. Herbert Ivlillett. 
Ella M., b. Sept. 12. 1S72; m. Washington Heald. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 529 

Xoniiaii F... h. Xov. ii. 1874; ni. ]\[;uul Heald. 

. I lice, 1). Aug. _'4, 1878; in. Charles A. Ronney. 

Bz'crctt M., 1). Mar. 11, 1880; m. Ina Hanson. 

Lillic L.. h. July 19, 1882; m. Harry K. Pulsifer. 

XoRM.vx E. Bessev, .<^on of the preceding, b. Nov. 11, 1874; 
in. Maiul Heald. He resides on the homestead of his father. 
Chil(h-en : 

Gerald II.. h. Jan. 22, 1899. 

Ralpli, b. Jan. 1 1. 1902. 

Everett M. Bessey, brother of the preceding; m. Ina Hanson 
and several children were born to them. She died and he m. 
J\riss Verna Howe of So. Paris. He resides at Rumford Falls 
and is a Deputy Sheriff there — a faithful and very efficient 
officer. 

BlCKNELL. 

The Bicknells of Bnckfield and Hebron trace their descent 
from Zachary and his wife Agnes, who came from England in 
1635 and settled at Weymouth. 

JoTTX BlCKNELL, a soldier of the Revolution, with his wife 
Rebecca, were early settlers in Hebron. She d. ^lay 15, 1802, 
and he m. 2d in 1804, Mrs. Susanna ( Packard) Sturtevant. He 
was probably the son of David Bicknell, who d. in H. in Dec, 
1825, aged 82. They had several children, among whom were: 

John, b. 1772. 

Xoah, b. 1773: m. Rebecca Carman. 

Simeon, h. 1775: ni. Reliekah Irish. 

David, b. Apr. 22. 1781 ; m. .\bigail Irish. 

Deborah, b. Oct. 7, 1785; m. George Bryant. 

Abigail, b. ; ni. James Bowker. 

John Bicknell, oldest son of John, b. 1772; m. . 

Children : 

John, b. April 6. 1796; m. Marcena Clnu-chill. 
James, b. May 9, 1802; m. Judith Bowker. 
Thirza, b. Aug. 8, 1804; m. Daniel Tracy. 
George, b. Apr. 22, 1808: m. Eleanor Rowe. 
Elbridge G., b. Xov. 28, 1810; ni. Emeline Briggs. 
Samuel, h. Oct. 28, 1814; m. Fear DeCoster. 
Shiiah, h. June 13, 1817; m. Hiram Andrews. 

John, oldest son of the preceding, b. April 6, i'/g(^; m. 
Marcena Churchill. Children: 

John. b. April 15. 1821 ; m. Eveline Cushnian. 



530 HISTORY OF BUCKFiELD 

Joseph B.. b. Sept., 182,3: m. i. Adaline Woodman, 2d, Rosetta Hall. 
Emily, b. May, 1826; m. Benj. C. Lurve}-. 
William S., b. Mar.. 1830; ni. ]\Iary Whitman. 

J.\MEs BiCKNELi.. bro. of the preceding-, b. ]\Iar. 9, 1802; m. 
Judith Bowker. He died Oct. 2"/, 1869. She died Nov. 16, 1885. 
Children : 

Arabella R.. h. Oct. 2, 1825; m. Merritt Farrar. 

James F., b. May 7, 1828; m. Rebecca S. Fletcher. 

Rosetta J., b. Sept. 10, 1820; m. Charles B. Hall, 2, Joseph Bicknell. 

J'ir^il D. P., b. Mar. 24. 1833; m. Frances M. Warren. 

Columbia P., b. May 30, 1835; ni. Levi Turner. 

Levi P., b. Aug. 24. 1837; m. Fanny Jordan. 

Georgianna H.. b. Feb. 15. 1843; m. James A. Warren. 

Isabel R., b. Feb. 24, 1845; m. Cyrus DeCoster. 

Juliette, b. Feb. 2j, 1847; 'H- Fdwin Mayhew. 

James F. Bicknell, son of the preceding, b. ]\Iay 7, 1828, 
ni. Rebecca S. Fletcher. He lives at Xo. Bnckfield. Children: 

Everett P.. b. Apr. 4. 1854; m. Lizzie A. Bennett: a successful mer- 
chant at Norway. They iiave one child, Grace, a talented young lady. 
She is a teacher, and has made several trips abroad. 

Isabel, h. June 7, 1859; d. Jan. 7, 1884. 

Virgil D. P. Bicknell, bro. of the preceding, b. Nov. 24, 
1833 ; m. Frances \L Warren. Children : 

Eudora P., b. April 20, 1859: m. Emeison .\mes. 
James E., b. .\pr. 2y, i8to. 
Florence JV.. b. Feb. i, 1862; d. unmarried. 
Nellie, b. Feb. 18, 1864: m. George Record. 
Minnie, b. July 17, i858: m. Selden Barrett. 

Le\'i p. Bicknell, son of James ante, b. Aug. 24, 1837; ■'•''• 
Fanny Jordan. She d. and he moved to California, where he m. 
and was killed by mine caving about 1889. Child: 

Fannie S,. h. Apr. i, 186.4 '• "'!■ Warren Lothrop. 

Xo.Mi Bicknell, son of first John, m. Dec, 1794, Rebecca 
Carman. Children : 

Cvnts, b. May 2S, 1796; m. Rebecca Bicknell. 
Hannah, b. Jan. 4, 1798; d. Sept. 28, 1829. 
Otis, b. Oct. 4, 1709: m. Martha Dudley. 
Acor, b. Sept. 19, 1801 ; d. Aug. to, 1816. 

Hosea, h. May 8, 1803: m. Zilpha . 

Sally, b. Feb. 24, 1805; d. Alar. 16, 1839. 
Luke, b. Dec. 17, 1806; m. Orris DeCoster. 
Timothy Pieh-erin}^, b. Feb. 13, 1809; d. unm. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 581 

Tristram GiliHiVi, h. June 24. i!^ii; m. Polly Jordan. He d. Feb. 15, 
1890. 

Mary D.. b. Oct. 23. 1813; d. unin. 

•Cyrus Bicknell, oldest son of Xoab, m. Rebecca Bicknell 
and had : 

Acor, b. Dec. 20. 1820; Calisfn. b. Aug. 24, 1822; Xoah, b. Feb. 23. 
1824, d. in infancy; Zilpha, b. Feb. 25. 1826; Columbus, b. Mar. 11, 1821; 
and .Imcricus, b. Aug. 26, 1831, d. Jan. i. 1863. 

Otis Bickxell, son of Xoah, b. Oct. 4. 1799; m. Martha 
Dudley. He died Sept. 2, 1877. She died July 22, 1873. 
Children : 

diaries, b. Sept. 20. 1824; m. Lucy Loring. 

.Icnnettc G., b. Nov. 30. 1828: m. Moses Themes. 

Citoyetnia, b. Apr. 9, 1835; m. Francis Buck. 

Mary, h. Jan. 28, 1838; m. Samuel Thomes. 

Ellen, h. July 13. 1840 ; m. Albion Taylor. 

Martha ff'., b. Aug. 20, 1847; m. F"red DeCoster. 

Luke Bickxell, son of Xoah. b. Dec. 17, 1806; m. in 1830 
Orris DeCoster. They settled in Hebron. He died Dec. 13, 
1837. His widow survived hira many years. Children : 

Xoali. h. May 18, 1831, a successful teacher. 
Eliai. b. Feb. 16. 1832; m. Russell S. Whitman. 
Albiiius. b. 1834; m. Mary DeGrenier. 
Justin, h. 1836; d. unm. 

SiMEox Bicknell, son of first John, with wife Rebekah 
Irish, settled in Buckfield about 1797. They probably were the 
first of the name here. Their deaths are not recorded on our 
records. Children : 

Sally, b. Apr. 23, 1796. 

David, b. Sept. 21, 1797. 

Samuel, b. June 6. 1799. 

Sophronia, b. abt. 1803 ; m. George Davie. 

Harriet, b. June 19, 1805 ; m. George DeCoster. 

Almira, b. Sept. 24. 1807; m. Orrin Irish. 

Lucius, b. Oct. 24, 1808. 

Bisbee. 
Tho^[.\s Bisbee — name variously spelt — the .American ances- 
tor, came to Scituate, Mass., early in i63_| with wife Anne 
(Banden), six children and three servants, in the Hercules. He 
was b. about !Mar. 3. 1589 (date christened), and was m. Jan. 
14, 1618. His parents were John and Dorothy lH:)ster Bisbee 



532 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

of Bicklentlen, England. Thomas became one of tlie members 
of Rev. John Lothrop's chnrch there and was one of its first 
deacons. This chnrch was organized from members of the first 
Puritan church of London. Its ruHng elder here was Nathaniel 
Tilden. who also came in the sliip Hercules. About four years 
after Thomas Bisbee removed to Dnxbary. where he held posi- 
tions of trust and served as representative to the General Court. 
He afterwards lived at ^Nlarshfield and finally made his home at 
Sudbury, where he died March 9, i<'>74. r>y his will, dated Nov. 
25, 1672, he becpieathed houses and lands in England to his 
grandson, Thomas Brown, child of his daughter Mary. Only 
three children are mentioned on the Plymouth, Mass.. records, 
and Elisha, as the only son. 

The date of Elisha Bisbee's birth is not known. He married 

Joanna , and lived near what in later vears. was called 

Union Bridge. Here he kept a ferry, and was licensed to run 
a public house. Six children are given in the Scituate town 
records. 

John Bishee was the 2d son and child, and was born in 
1647. He married Sept. 13, i()87 Joanna Brooks, at Alarshfield, 
where he resided {or several years, finally removing to Pembroke 
where he died Sept. 24, 1726. His wife had died the month 
before. Eight children are given in tlie records : ]\Ioses was the 
3d son and 5th child, and was born Oct. 20, 1695. He movetl to 
East Bridgewater, where, by wife Mary, ^^ix children were born. 
Charles was the ist son and 3d child, and was born in 1726. 
He married Beulah Howland, a descendant of John and Eliza- 
beth (Tilley) Howland, botli Mayfiower Pilg-rims. They had 
nine children, all born before they settled in \\"est Butterfield, 
now Sunnier, in June, 1784. He had matle a clearing and 
erected a log house for occupancy the year before. 

Charles Bisijee had served in the War for American Inde- 
pendence. He selected his land with gotxl jiidg-ment. and with 
tlie help of his seven sons soon cleared up a good farm. He 
lived to see his children comfortably settled around him and 
enjoying the fruits of their toil. He died June 5. 1807, on the 
23d anniversary of the family's arrival in town. His widow died 
Sept. I, 1816. Children: 

Liciif. niislia. h. Mar. 4, 1757: ni. Molly Pettriigill. 

Charles, h. 1758: m. Desire Dinglev. 




Elisha Bisbee, Jr. 




m 




m 



o 



HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 5B7 

.Ui.Tv. b. Apr. 28. i,r6o: ni. Charles For<l. 

Moses, h. Feb. 21, 1765; m. Ellen Buck. 

John, h. 1767: m. Sarah Philbrick. 

Soloiiwii, b. Sept. 3, 1769; m. Ruth Barrett. 

Calvin, b. Oct. 14, 1771 ; m. Bcthiah Glover. 

Rouse, b. Oct. 17. T772; m. Hannah C;irrell (or Cary). 

Celia. h. May 7. 1774; m. Josiiua Ford. 

LiKUT. Eli.sha IjisnKK, oldest son of ( harles the 7th, settler 
in Sumner, b. Mar. 4, 1757. was an ofiicer in the Revolution, 
where he performed valiant service, lie m. in 1779 at Duxbury, 
]\Iass., Molly Pettengill 1). Ja!i. c), i7f,o; d. Aug. 20, 181 t. He 
built a house in S. in i/(/\ which is in a good state of preserva- 
tion. He died Dec. 1, 1826. Children: 

Susan, h. Mar. 28, 1780; m. Nathaniel Bartlett of Hartford. 
Sally, b. 1782: m. Gad Hayford of Hartford. 
A>ma, b. 1784; ni. Stephen Drew of Turner. 

Elisha, Jr., b. May 8, 1786; ni. ist, Joanna Sturtevant, 2nd, Fanny 
Bryant. 

Daniel, b. Alay 7, 1791 ; m. Sylvia Stevens. 

Molly B., b. Jan. 4, 1794; m. Xeliemiah Bryant, 2;'i, Lnnucl Dunham. 

Capf. Hopestill, b. Xov. 24. 1796; m. Martha Sturtevant. 

Theresa, b. ; m. Barney Howard of Hartford. 

Huldah. h. ; m. Sampson Reed of Hartford. 

Horatio, b. Aug. 13. 1800; m. Eunice White. 

Elisha Bisbee. Jr., oldest son of the preceding, b. ]\Tay 8, 
1786; m. Joanna Sturtevant Apr. 15, 1810. He lived for a short 
time in Buckfield village, then exchanged his stand here with 
Zebediah Austin for his farm in Sumner, which is still owned 
by his descendants. Children: 

Elbridg.e C. b. in B., Feb. 8. 181 1; d. Oct. 2, 1812. 
Genr.iie Jl'ashin.^ton, b. in B., July 6, 1812; m, Mary B. Howe. 
Thomas Jefferson, h. in B., July 6, 1812; m. Sylvia Stetson, s. in Rum- 
ford. 

Mary P., b. June 6, 1815; m. Freeman Reed, llartford. 
f.Hsha S., b. Apr., 1822; d. Sept. 24, 1823. 

His wife died Jan. 30, 1825, and he m. 2nd, Fanny Bryant. Children: 
Sabra IV., b. Feb. 21, 1826; m. Orville Robinson. 
Sophia G., b. Apr. 7, 1827. 

Capf. Levi B., b. July 16, 1828; m. Eliza A. Heald. 
Elisha S., b. Apr. 15, 1830; m. Jane Parsons. 
.Isia H., b. Jan. 6, 1832. s. in Oregon. 

Daniel H., b. Oct. 9, 1833, s. in Nevada; d. in 1892 in Auburn. 
Jane Y.. b. July i, 1835; m. James McDonald. 
Hopestill R., b. June 21, 1837; m. Ella Byram, s. in Nevada. 



538 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Sei-i^f. Hiram B., b. Dec. ii, 1839; k. at Bermuda Hundred, Mav 20. 
1864. 

George Washington Biseee, son of Elisha, Jr., b. in 11. 
July 6, 1812; m. Jan. i, 1836, Mary B. Howe of Runiford. Hr 
was a blacksmith by trade, and had an aptitude for politics, and 
was an ardent supporter of Hannibal Hamlin. He settled 1st in 
Hartford, but in 1857 moved to Peru, where he died. Jan. 2"/, 
1872. His wife d. in B. at her son's June 25, 1885. The remains 
of both were buried in Bucktield. Child : 

George D., b. Hartford, -Juh- 9, 184 1 ; m. Anna Louise Stanley. 

Hon. George D. Bisdee (see lawyers), son of the preceding, 
b. July 9, 1841 ; m. July 8, 1866, Anna Louise Stanle}-, a dau. 
of Isaac X. Stanley, Esq., of Dixfield. Children : 

Stanley, b. April 25. 1867; m. Nellie B. Spaulding. 

Seth Wiliuot. b. l\Iay 6, 1869; d. Aug. 27. i85q. 

J^Virt, h .June 7, 1871; d. Nov. i. 1871. 

Mary Louise, b. Aug. 6, 1873; m. Everett R. Josselyn of Portland. 

Stanley Bisbee, son of George Dana and Anna Louise 
(Stanley) Bisbee, was born in Buckfield, Maine, April 25, 1867. 
He attended Hebron Academy and Coburn Classical Institute 
and commenced business as a clerk in a general store in Buck- 
field, of which he soon became proprietor, remaining in that 
business up to 1893, when he sold out and became agent for the 
American Express Company, opening an office in Rumford Falls 
just as the place became an important, railroad center. In 1895 
he engaged in the hardware business and still conducts the busi- 
ness. He was elected selectman of the town of Buckfield, and 
was a member of the school board of Rumford' for six years. 
He was initiated in the Masonic fraternity through membership 
in the Blazing Star Lodge of Rumford, was advanced to the 
Rumford Royal Arch Chapter, Strathglass Commandery, 
Knights Templar, of Rumford, Maine. He is also a member 
of Penacook Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of 
Rumford Falls ; of the Knights of Pythias, Metalluc Lodge. 
Rumford Falls, and a companion of the Loyal Legion of the 
United States. In 1909 he represented the town of Rumford in 
the Seventy-fourth Legislature. He was re-elected the following 
year. He married, March 12, 1889, Nellie B., daughter of Cyrus 
C. and Ellen Young Spaulding, of Buckfield, Maine, and their 
clrldren are: 




Stanley Bisbee 




Spaulding Bisbee 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 541 

Sf'auldiiiii, h. in Bucklicl;!. Jan. 6. iSrrj. 

Louise, b. in Kumford, July 23, 1896. was cdncatecl at Runiford 1 ligh 
School and Hebron Academy. S'.ie graduat'd ai latter institution in 
1915- 

Spauldixc. soil of Stanley aiivl Xellie 11. ( Spauklins^- ) Bisbee, 
and of the eleventh generation from Thonias Bisbee, the immi- 
grant, of 1635, tKDrn in Buckfield Jan. 6, 1890, was educated in 
the schools of Rumford Falls, Hebron .Vcademy. Colby College 
and graduated from the Boston University of Law in June, 
1914, and is now a member of the law firm of Bisbee &' Parker. 
He is a promising young man of much ability, and will unques- 
tionably take high rank in his profession. 



Bo.\xl•:^•. 

The Bonneys of Buckfield and Turner claim to be of English 
descent. They are of an old J'lymouth family, hirst and last 
it has furnished many men of prominence. 

James Bonnev, the first of the name to settle in lUtcktown. 
came from Pembroke. Mass., where he was b. Apr. 22, 1764. and 
purchased land of the proprietors, adjoining the Sumner town 
line Xov. i/th. 1789. His father and direct ancestors as far back 
as known were named James. He clearet! the land and erected 
his habitation and other buildings, and having married Aliss 
Sallv Glover b. in Pembroke May 30. 1776, they moved to Buck- 
field in 1799. The removal was maile on horseback and it took 
some two weeks or more to make the journey. The farm has 
since been known as the Bonney place. Th.ree generations of 
15onne}-s have been born there. He died March 13, 1836. She 
died Jan. 16, 1859. Children: 

Co!. James, b. Buckfield, Xov. 25. 1709: m. iVthany Keene. 
Sal!\\ h. Bucklield, Sept. 3, if-'os; d. num.. Oct. 28, 1838. 

CoL. J,\MES BoxNEY. SOU of the preceding, born Xov. 2=^, 
1799, married P)ethany Keene of Sumner, born January 15, 1802. 
He had the homestead of his father, where he lived to his death. 
Col. Bonney was prominent iii town afiair.-;, and served a num- 
ber of years as member of the board of selectmen, four years 
of which he was chairman. He was several times a candidate 
for representative to the Legii^lature. ami came near an election 
in 1844. He was popular with the militia in which he rose as 



542 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 




Albion P. Bonney 

an officer to the rank of Colonel. For mar.y years Col. lionney 
held a commission as a Justice of the Peace. He died Feb. i8, 
1864. His wife died Aug. 3. 18(17. Children: 

BcfscY B.. 1). Aug. 30. 18J3: m. George G. Chaffin. She d. Dec. 22, 
1850. 

Hon. .llbioii P., b. May 22. 1826; m. i, Mary A. Irish. 2, Ellen T. 
Shaw, 3, -\bbie Tnell. 

Josiah Kecnc, h. July 21. 1828; d. Sept. lo. 1848. 

Andrc7i< Jackson, b. Nov. 24. 1833; m. Ellen L. Hobart, s. in Mass. 
He d. May' 17. 1863. 

Sarah E., b. Apr. ig, 1836; ni. Daniel B. Bonnc\, s. in Hartford; 2 c. 
Harry L. and James T. Bonney. 

Hon. Albion P. Bonney, son of the preceding, acquired his 
education in the sclrools of his town and vicinity, and fitted him- 
self for a teacher, and for many years he taught in the winter 
seasons with great success. He early took an interest in public 
afifairs and was one of the organizers of the republican party. 
He has alwavs been a strict temperance man. In 1857 Mr. 
Bonnev was elected one of the selectmen, and he served in that 



HFSTORY OF BUCKFIELD 543 

capacity in all for 13 years. He was also several years town 
treasurer, and a member of the school committee. The people 
elected him again and again to town office and they never lost 
their faith in his integrity and worth as a citizen and an ofifiicial. 
Jn 1884 lie was elected senator to the State Legislature. Air. 
l)onney was a charter member of Nezinscot Lodge of Odd Fel- 
lows. In 1897 he sold his farm and moved to Auburn, Me., 
where lie now resides. Mr. P<onney has l)een three times married. 
Children by 1st wife: 

Pr. Frank J., h. Mar. 8, 1850; m. Nancy Penley. 

Ella /•.. b. Mar. 24, 1852: m. Wm. S. Thornc. She d. Aug. 17, 1875. 

Euinia F.. b. .A.ug. ig, 1857; m. Herbert E. Bonney, s. in Hartford. 
.1 c, Mary A., b. Aug. 30, 1881, a teacher in Quincy, Mass., schools. 
Albion P., b. Jan. 21. 1889, and Mildred L, b. June 12, 1894. 

His first wife died July 14. 1862. and he married 2d Ellen 
T. Shaw. Child by 2d wife : 

X cilic L., I). Mar. iq, 1865 : m. l<"red W. Keene, s. in Auliurn. i c, 
■ Hazel Bonney, b. Oct., 1890. 

His second wife died Mar. 22, 1865, and lie married 3d Abljie 
Tuell. She died Jan. 20, 1901. (He has recently deceased.) 

Dr. Frank J. Bonney, the only son of the preceding, was 
born in Ihickfield March 8, 1850. He married Aliss Nancy 
Penley. After acquiring his education, he entered the dental 
office of Dr. Xathaniel Gammon. He opened an office in Ouincy, 
iMass., where he resided for several years and carried on a large 
and lucrative business. He became one of the most expert and 
skillful of practitioners in the profession, and acquired a very 
large property. He finally purchased a large estate near the city 
of Auburn, where he resided to his death. He opened a dental 
office in Lewiston and did a very large and lucrative business. 
Doctor Bonney was a prominent member of several secret socie- 
ties and was very popular in social circles. He died Dec. 10, 
1899, lamented by all who knew him. He left one child, a 
daughter, Ella ]\Iay. Site m. J. Ham Brooks, a druggist at South 
Paris. They have a kttle daughter born July 31, 1903, and 
named diethyl Bonney. The wife died suddenly at .Auburn, Sept. 
25, 1903- 

Bowki:r. 

Cai'T. J.\mks IJowM'iR, an early resident lierc, was descended 
from James Bowker, a Swede, and wife Marv, who settled in 



544 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Scituate, Alass., before 1680. Capt. James m. Judith Chase and 
settled in Paris. He died in iUickfield, June i, 1827. Children: 

James, Jr., b. May 10, 1788; m. Abigail Bicknell. s. in Buckheld. 
Tryphosa, b. Aug. 18, 1789; m. Simeon Howard, s. in Woodstock. 
Anson, b. June 7, 1792; d. in War of 1812. 

Cyprian, b. Dec. i, 1793; m. ist, Racbel Alayhew, 2nd, Mary (May- 
liew ) Cole. 

Sally, b. Jan. 22, 1796; d. in Buckfield, Sept. 25, 1880. 

Edmund, b. Oct. 3, 1798; m. Mary A. Chase, s. in Woodstock. 

Judith, b. July 13, 1800; d. Nov. 30, 1801. 

Judith, h. Ma>- 18, 1802: m. James Bicknell, 5. in B. 

Harvey, b. May 4, 1804; m. ist, Phebc Proctor, 2nd, Diana Curtis. 

Alonno, b. Apr. 16, 1806; m. Phebe Andrews. 

Elvira, b. Apr. 16, 1806; m. William Crockett. 

l.aura, b. Mar. 29, 1809. 

Capt. James Bowker, Jr., b. May lo, 1788; m. Abig-ail Bick- 
nell. He was a man of prominence, and was for a time a deputy 
sheriff. He moved to Paris in 1834, and died there in 1847. H!is 
wife died in Nov., 1879. Children : 

Whitman IV., b. Nov. 18, 1817; m. Mrs. ^lary Cummings. 

Abigail B., b. Mar. 12, 1819. 

Caroline .1., b. Dec. i, 1820; m. Horatio Downer, Norway. 

Mary T., h. Sept. 29, 1822; m. Thomas Hilborn. 

Odessa M., b. Feb. 13, 1828 : m. Mary Jordan, s in Paris. 

Aravesta D., b. Feb. 23, 1831; m. Prentiss M. Colburn. 

Delhhinits P., b. Paris, Oct. 7, 1835; d. Apr. 28, 1841. 



Bridgham. 

The r.ridghams of Buckheld trace the.r descent from Dr. 
Joseph Bridgham, who graduated at Harvard College in 1719. 
He married Abigail Willard, a granddaughter of Capt. John 
Alden, and great-granddaughter of John Alden and Priscilla 
Mullens, who came over in the Mayflower. 

Dr. Joseph Bridgham was a physician and apothecary in 
Boston for many years. Late in life he moved to Plympton, 
where he died in 1754. His son, Capt. John, served in the War 
for Independence. He was selectman in Plympton and repre- 
sentative in the General Court from that town. He married 
Joanna Carver and raised a large family of children, among 
whom was Dr. William, born in Plympton about 1756. With 
wife Lydia he settled first in Plymouth and afterwards moved 



A 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 545 

to Xew Gloucester, where he practiced his ])rofession for many 
years with marked success. 1 le died there -Vug. 4, 1837, "aged 
81." She died Oct. 18. 1846, "aged Jj^ 

Dr. William Bkidgham, Jr. (see physicians), son of Dr. 
\\ illiam of X"e\v Gloucester, was born Xov. 26. 1780. He mar- 
ried Hannah llradbury. Me died Xov. 13, 1864, "aged 84." She 
died Nov. zy , 1859, "aged 80." Children: 

Hannah, b. Jan. 13, 1S05 : ni. Isaac Cliasc. 

Caroline, h. Sept. ,3, 1806; m. i. Luther Crocker, 2, Cyrus Bridghrmi. 
Sydenham, b. Sept. 15, t8o8: ni. Lucretia SheparcL 
Orvillc, b. April 3, 1811 ; m. r\lary II. Atvvood. 
Aurelia, b. July g. 1814: never married. 

Dr. Win. Piiikncy, b. Sept. 3, iSi5; ni. i, Delp'nina Ilayford, 2. Lucy 
(Hayford) Farrar. 

Ma:y Ann, h. June 13, 1825; d. unm., Xov. 14, 1863. 

SvDENiiAJSi Bridciiam, SOU of the preceding, b. Sept. 15, 
180S: m. Lucretia Shepard. He was a prominent man in town 
affairs, and kept a public house for many years. He died ]\lay 
10,. 1882. She died Apr. 8, 1882. Children : 

Sarah L., b. Sept. 8, 183-I ; m. Jo.seph Brown. 

Thomas Sydenham, b. Nov. 25, 1836; m. Martha H. Farnuni. 

Henry Warren, b. Aug. 16, 1838; d. July 29, 1842. 

Dr. Charles Burr, b. May i, 1841 ; m. Addie Williams. 

Ada Byron, h. Sept. 20, 1843 ; d. July, 1844. 

W'illiam Henry, b. Dec. 28, 1846; m. Georgiette RadclifFe. 

Thomas S. Bridgham, Esg. (see lawyers), son of the pre- 
ceding, b. X"ov. 25, 1836; tn. Martha H. Farnum. She died sev- 
eral years ago. Children : 

Ada, b. Sept. 19, 1859; d. Apr. 6, 1863. 

Harold, b. June 19, 1861 ; a conductor on Santa Fe R. R. 

Lucretia Belle, b. May 13, 1866; m. Henry H. Nulty. 

Dr. Cir.\RLES B. Bridgham (see physicians) bro. of the pre- 
ceding, b. Afay I, 1841 ; m. Addie M. Williams. They reside in 
Cohassett, ]\Iass. Children : 

Ma-y Frances, b. Jan. 4, 1865; m. Henry T. P. Bates, resides in Wol- 
laston, ^lass. 

Addie Ellen, b. Apr. 23, 1869; m. Herbert H. Withington, resides in 
Cohassett, Mass. 

Charles Burr, b. Nov. 15, 1875; d. July 23, 1880. 

Hattie Belle, b. Nov. 15, 1875; d. July 20, 1880. 

Henry Sydenham, b. May 14, 1878; d. July 15, 1880. 

Paul Chester, b. July 29, 1882. 



546 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

William Henry Bridgham, bro. of the preceding, b. Dec. 
28, 1846; m. Georgiette Radcliffe. Children: 
Lee, h. Apr. i, 1871 ; m. Cassie Slattery. 
Alice Maud, b. Apr. 9, 1873. 
Dexter William, b. June 30. 1878. 
Rebecca Lucretia, b. May 20, 1881. 
Graver Cleveland, b. Oct. 25, 1884. 
Francis Marble, b. ]\Iar. 14, 1888; d. Sept. 22. 1890. 
Radcliffe Sydenham, b. Aug. 15, 1894. 

OviLLii Bridghaim, son of Dr. William, b. April 3, 181 1; 
m. ]\Iary H. Atwood. He died Dec. 25, 1875. Children: 
George Harris, b. Feb. 7, 1849. 
Louisa Caroline, b. Jan. 8. 1853; <1- Apr. 7, 1859. 
Helen A., h. May ; d. Mar. 18. 1859. 

Dr. William P. Bridgham (see physicians), youngest son 
of Dr. William, b. Sept. 13, 1816; m. Delphina Hayford. She 
d. Sept. 8, 1870, and he m. 2d Lucy (Hayford) Farrar. Chil- 
dren by 1st wife : 

Ella Hannah, b. Oct. 26, 1846; m. Roscoe Wood, s. in Auburn. 

Florence May. b. Oct. 8, 1849. 

Xcllic Delphina, b. Nov. 15. 1858. 

George Bridgham, son of Dr. William of Xew Gloucester, 
m. in 1806, Anna Nichols. Both were b. Feb. 13, 1788. They 
were both of B. When m. went to Norway, but before 1810 
came back to Buckfield. where he was in trade and kept a public 
house for several years. Tn 1841 he moved to South Paris, 
where he also kept a public house. His Vvife d. Xov. 4, 1854. 
He d. Sept. 24, 1873. Children, all but first, in Buckfield: 

George, Jr., b. Aug. 16, 1808: m. MyrtiUa Cole. 

Anna, b. Sept. 16, 1810; m. Miles Long. 

Everlinc, b. Xov. 15, 1811 ; ni. Caleb Cushman, Jr. 

Arvilla S., b. May 15, 1815 : ni. Ransom R. Eonney, Turner. 

Elbridgc G.. b. Dec. 14, 1817; m. Appbia R. Bonney, s. at S. Paris. 

Lucretia A., b. Mar. 20, 1819; m. James Curtis, Paris. 

Corrydon P.. b. Jan. 31, 1823; m. Lucy Foster. 

Flavilla R., b. Xov. 11, 1825; m. Rufus Brainerd. Hallowell. 

Brock. 

John Brock among first of the name to settle in Bucktown. 
He was from Pembroke or vicinity. He m. Stisannah Crandle. 
Children : 

Leonard, li. Sept. 12, 1793: m. Polly . 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 547 

John, Jr., b. Sept. 30, I794; "i- Taniar Farrar. She d. Apr. 16, 1867. 
He d. :\[ar. 8, 1877. 

Daniel, b. June 26, 1796; m. Louisa Spencer. 
Samuel, b. Mar. 17, 1798; m. Harriet Spencer. 
Susanna, b. Feb. 10, 1800; m. Nathan F'arrar. 
Polly, b. Oct. 28, 1801 : m. John Farrar. 
JJavid, b. Sept. 9, 1804; m. Judith Farrar. 
Otis, b. -Mar. 22, 1806. 
Betsey, b. Oct. 19, 1807 ; m. Cyrus Buck. 



Brown. 

Two Browns, John and Amos, were settlers in the township 
before Jan. i, 1784. The former was from New Gloucester, 
Amos from \\'indham. 

John had no family when coming here. So far as known, 
he was not related to Amos. His wife had died and one of his 
datighters had married Thomas Allen and another Nathaniel 
Btick. He died about 1800. 

Amos Brown (see sketch), b. Mar. 13, 1752, Windham; m. 
Sarah Cilley. They settled in the Chase neig'hborhood. She died 
and he m. 2d, in 1814, Hannah Proctor. He died in 1825. 
Children by first wife : . 

Mary, b. Oct. 20, 1780; m. George Roberts. 

iniliani, h. May 11, 1782; m. Betsey Young. He d. before 1823. 

John, b. May 5, 1784 ; m. Polly Cole. 

.linos. Jr., b. Dec. 9, 1786; m. prob. to Tryphosia Bowker. 

Anna, b. Aug. 27, 1788; m. Isaac Young. 

Lydia, b. Dec. 3, 1790; m. John Cole. 

Benjamin, b. July 27, 1702; m. Phebe Buck. He d. before 1823. 

William Brown, son of the preceding, b. May 11, 1782; m. 
Betsey Young. He died before 1823. She died Jan. 29, 1875. 
Children: 

John, b. Mar. i, 1805; m. Lucy Hunton ( ?). 
Edzvard, h. Apr. 10, 1807; m. Lydia Richard.-;on. 

.Morris, b. Apr. 10, 1809: m. F'anny 

.\foscs, b. Aug. 4, 181 1 ; ni. Susannali Brown. 

William, b. Xov. 4. 1813; m. Rebecca Jcnkirs, s. in Livennore (?) 

John Brown, son of Amos, the Revolutionary soldier, b. 
May 5, 1784; m. Polly Cole. Children: 
Hannah, b. Xov. 0. 1806. 
John. h. May 14 i8nS; ni. L'rsuhi 



548 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Hanson, b. Aug. 23, 1810; m. Sarah D. Clmrchill. 
Susannah, b. June 24, 1814; m. Moses Brown. 
Polly, b. Nov. 12, 1815. 
Benjamin, b. Jan. 23. 1817. 
tliza, b. Aug. I. 1 818. 



Buck. 

The Bucks of Buckfield are descended from William I'.uck, 
"plowwright," the xAmerican ancestor, who emigrated from 
England to Salem, Mass., in the ship Increase in 1635. He was 
born in England in 1585. There is a family tradition that the 
Bucks are of Scottish origin, and were connected with the royal 
family of King James the Eirst and Queen Elizabeth. One of 
the race now living remembers seeing in the family of one of the 
daughters of Capt. Jonathan Buck a pin cushion made from one 
of the silk dresses of Queen Elizabeth, wiiich was cherished as 
an heirloom. The English ancestor may have come from Scot- 
land with King James, who ascendetl the throne after the death 
of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Hugh Buck was Master of the Rolls 
under this monarch and licensed some theatrical pla\s. The 
name is supposed to have been taken from armorial devices, and 
first given for distinction won on the field of battle. 

^^'ith the .American ancestor William, can-ie four sons : Isaac, 
James, John and Roger. The fatlier with Roger settled in 
Cambridge, where he died Jan. 24. 1658, aged "jT)- Roger, who 
was 18 years old, according to tradition, when he came to 
America, married and had three sons, Samuel. John and Ephraim. 
and several daughters. 

Ephr.mm was the youngest son. He married Sarah, daughter 
of lohn Brooks, and settled in Woburn. One account sa\s that 
they had five sons and three daughters. Another mentions only 
four sons : Ephraim, John. Samuel and Ebenezer. 

John, born Feb. 7, 1680, married Priscilla . He died 

Nov. 24, 1752. Of their children, was John, born Nov. 28, 
1 716. He was a soldier in the French and Indian War and at 
one time was a captive by the savages and came near being mas- 
sacred, but managed to escape. He died in New Gloucester 
about the beginning of the year 1761. According to tradition 
his wife was Sarah Clements. She died a very short time before 
he did, and both were buried in the same grave. There is no 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 549 

iloubt that they were the parents of Abijah Buck and his brothers 
who settled in BLickfield. Dr. Wm. B. Lapham in a communica- 
tion before his death said: '"I have followed out every line of 
this Buck family down to this John, and later, and I find that 
he is the only one who could possibly have been the father of 
Abijah and his brothers of Buckfield." We have ascertained 
from the records of Abijah's service in the French and Indian 
War, that he stated in his enlistment his father's name was John, 
which settles the matter. Children of John and Sarah (Clements) 
Buck : 

Abijah, b. about 1742; m. Phebe Tyler. 

Xntlianiel, b. : m. Mary Brown. 

John. b. about 1754; m. Abigail Frish. 
Sally, b. 

Esther, b. ■ ; m. John Akers ; s. in Erroll. X. H. 

Moses, b. X. G. about 1759; m. Hannah Chabb; pub. Mar. 16, 1781 ; 
s. in Sumner; d. in 1825. 

Abijah Buck (see sketch) was the first settler of this name 
in Buckfield. He m. Phebe, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca 
Tyler. JJis wife died Aug. 17, 1816, and he m. 2d in 181 7, Mrs. 
I'iebecca I^.isbee. He died about 1829, in the 87th year of his age. 
Children — only last two b. in Buckfield : 

Elizabeth, b. July i, 1763; m. John Warren. 
Ellen, b. Jan. 8, 1765; m. Moses Bisbee. 
Phebe, b. Dec. 17. 1766; m. Joel Foster. 
John, b. Dec. 22, 1768; m. Man,' Warren. 
Rebecca^ b. Dec. is. 1772; ni. John Clay. 
Abijah, Jr., b. Mar. i, 1778: m. Abigail Tucker. 

Jonathan, b. Feb. 5, 1782; m. ist Betsey Tyler; 2d, Henrietta De 
Albra Chaffin. 

JoH.v Buck, 2d oldest son of Abijah Buck, the pioneer, was 
l)orn in Xew Gloucester Dec. 22, 1768. He married Oct. 14, 
1789, Mary \\'arren, daughter of Tristram and Mary ( Xeal) 
Warren. At the same time his sister Ellen m. Moses Bisbee. 
He settled west of his father's residence on the hill since known 
as John Buck Hill. He was called "Honest John Buck." About 
1 814 he sold out and went East with his family and finally settled 
in Enfield, Me., on the Penobscot river. For many years he was 
deacon of the Baptist church there. His wife died in 1830. He 
died !May 11, 1831, respected by all who knew him. All but the 
youngest child John, ?.re recorded on the Buckfield records: 



550 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Lovina, b. Aug. i6, 1790; m. Nathaniel Webster; d. in Enfield, May 2, 
1855; 4 c, Franklin, Eunice, Nathaniel and William. 

James, b. Nov. 9, 1791 ; m. Olive Gerry ; d. Bradford, Me., June 12, 
1863; 6 c, Harrison, Ebenezer, Atwood,Lucena, Sarah and Olive. 

Abijah, b. July o, 1793; m. Deborah Frost; d. Lowell, Me., Nov. 16, 
1868; 5 c, Sarah, Adeline, Augustus, Cyrus and Charles. 

Phcbe, b. Sept. 7, 1796; m. John M. Perkins; d. Lincoln, Me., May 12, 
1842; 5 c, William, Josiah, Phebe, Mary Ann and Cyrena. 

Lydia, b. Sept. 8, 1799; m. Ansel Perkins; d. Enfield, Feb. 9. 1851 ; 2c., 
Daniel and Andrew. 

Mary, b. July 7. i8oi : m. Samuel Brown; d. Lowell, ^le.. Sept. 10, 
1837; 8 c, Frederick, John, Catherine, Loi>, Lydia, Mary, Anson and 
Samuel. 

Lois, b. Apr. 22, 1803; m. Harback Hathaway: d. Enfield. May 15, 
1843; 1 c, Malinda. Lena, b. Mar. 6, 1804; d. in infancy. 

Betsy, b. Aug. 6, 1S05 ; m. James Page; d. Burlington, Me., Sept. 18, 
1887, no issue. 

Jeifersoii. b. July 22, 1S07; m. Drusilla Shorey ; d. Lowell, Apr. 21, 
1853 ; 10 c, Joseph. James, Luther, Jefferson, John, Lovina, Eliza, Elvira, 
Annie and Isabella. 

John, b. 18—; m. Sally Frost; d. Medford, M^., Sept. 22, 1848; 3 c, 
Martha, Delphina and Vesta. 

Abijah Buck, Jr., bro. of the preceding-, b. AJar. i, 1778; 
m. Abigail Tucker. They .settled on a part of hi.s father's estate. 
He d. Nov. 25, 1840. She d. Apr. 2^, 1855, in her 85th year. 
Children : 

Ruth, b. Aug. 26, 1759; d. Jan. 30, 1886; m. Amasa Tucker, Sumner. 

Ellen, b. Oct. 20, i8oo; m. Braincrd Towle. 

Christopher C, b. June 15, 1802; m. ' — : s. in Lincoln. 

Cyrus, b. Oct. 30, 1805 ; m. Betsey Brock ; s. in Lincoln. 

Timothy, b. Oct. 14. 1807; d. Nov. i, 1808. 

Abijah, 3d, h. Fels. 14, 1814; ni. Ar\illa Keen. 

Abijah 3d, son of the preceding, b. Feb. 14, 1814; m. 
Arvilla Keen. He d. at Alechanic Falls, Oct. 30, 1886. Children: 
Florilla, b. Apr. 19, 1837; "i- (^^tis H. Young. 
Rebccea J., b. Felx 2t„ 1839; m. Bradley V. Mason. 
Martha O., h. July 12, 184.2; m. Samuel Jordan. 
Zadoc Alonzo, b. June 25, 1845; ni. Julia Record. 

Capt. Jonath.\n Buck, the youngest son of Abijah, the first 
settler, m. i.st E'etsey Tyler and settled on and had the home- 
stead of his father. For many years he kept a public house in 
Buckfield. Children : 

Belinda, b. Apr. 8, 1801 ; m. Dr. Campl)ell. 
Edivin, b. Apr. 26, 1803 ; s. in California. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 551 

James Sullhaii, b. Oct. 26, 1805; m. Lvdia Austin. 
Henry E., b. Oct. 3, 1807; m. Mahala Bisbee. 
Betsey J., b. Feb. 26, 1810; ni. Calvin Keen 
Jonathan. Jr., b. Mar. 26, 1812: m. Aurelia Polland. 
Samuel T., b. Mar. 10, 1815 : m. Miriam B. Towle. 

His wife died Jan. 5, 1836, aged 59. Pie m. 2d Henrietta 
DeAlbra Chaffin. Cliildren : 

Henrietta DeAlbra, b. Oct. 3, 1838; ni. Daniel Fletcher of Peru. 
Josephine, h. Sept. 6, 184 1 ; d. Apr. 27, 1844. 
Louisa J., b. Ma\- 17, 1845; ni. Gilman Buck. 

He died Feb. 19, 1850. She m. 2d William Childs. She died 
July 7, 1885, in her 85th year. 

J.\MEs Sullivan Bl'Ck, son of Capt. Jonathan, b. Oct. 26, 

1S05; m. Lydia Austin. He died Sept. 6, 1889. She died Dec. 

21, 1861. Children: 

Jair.es L.. h. Oct. 2, 1828; m. Octavia Gilmore; .s. in Turner. 
Wm. A., b. Sept. 30, 183 1 ; m. Mary Hall; 5. in Maine. 
Roscoe G., b. Oct. 2~, 1833; m. Melvina H. Mason. 
Mary J., b. Feb. 27, 1837; m- Hezekiah Stetson Sumner. 
Henry M., b. Sept. 4. 1839; m. Rosetta J. Doblc. 
Hannah C, b. July 5. 1842 : m. Julius A. Record. 
Charles ./., b. Mar. 20. 1845; m. Edith Bicknell. 

Henry ^I. Buck, son of the preceding, b. Sept. 4, 1839: m. 

Rosetta J. Doble. Children : 

Dehna, b. Mar. 8, 1863 ; m. Fairfield Farrar. 

Lorenco A., b. Dec. 18. 1866; died young. 

Ljilie A., b. Oct. ii. 1868; m. ist. Frank Damon: 2d. Emulus Benson. 

Charles A., b. Oct. 22. 1869; m. Hattie Churchill. 

Emma M., b. Z^Iar. 2, 1871 : died young. 

Percy A., b. Mar. 16, 1874; died young. 

Lorenzo, b. Jan. i. 1876; d. Jan. 13, 1880. 

Imogene. b. about 1886. 

Henry E. Bltk, son of Capt. Jonathan, Senior, b. Oct. 3, 
1807: m. !\Iahala IHsbee. Children: 

Charles C, b. Oct. 9. 1S31. 

Octafia, h. Jan. 9. 1834; m. Horatio Flagg. 

He died Aug. 4, 1836, and his widow m. 2d Samuel Duck. 

C.M'T. Jox.\TiL\x Buck, Jr., b. Mar. 26, 1812; m. in 1836, 

Aurelia Polland. He died Aug. 18, 1845. Children: 

Clarence C, b. Apr. 17, 1837; m. Sarah Titcomh ; s. in Boston. 
Lucy A., h. Mar. 13, 1839; died unmarried. 

Edwin T., b. Feb. 8, 1842; m. Jennie ; s. lirst in Boston and later 

in Cleveland. Ohio. 



552 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Emily /., b. Feb. i6, 1844; m. Dec. 20, 1877, Geo. O. Lapham ; she d. 
Jan. 1, 1886. One child, Anna Story, b. Oct. 28, 1880, lives with her 
father. 

Samuel T. Buck, son of Capt. Jonathan, Senior, b. March 10, 
1815: m. Miriam R. Towle. He died Xov. 28, 1850. Children: 
Julia C, b. Mar. 26, iS-jo; lives in Gor'nam, ]\lc. 
CJiarlotic A., b. Jnne 27, i8-|^u. m. and lives in Boston. ' 

C[..\RENCE C. r>iH"K. b. in Bnckfiehl, .\pr. T/, 1837; '"• Sarah 
Titcomb. He d.ied "n Mass. several years ago. She lives with 
her daughter Juliri in n(~)rchester, Alass. Children: 

I Julia, b. ; unmarried. 

II I.ttcy Ann. b. Mar. i_', 18,^9: m. Jnne 20, 1S67 at Portland, Me., Wm. 
Kimball Sa\vv.^r, ii. Jnne 15. 1840. 

He was the son of hVederick Saw}"er of Gorham, Me., and 
Harriet Eastman Merrill of X. Cor^vay, X. H., and was a Civil 
War soldier. Shortly after his marriage moved to Boston, 
Mass., where he b.as snce n.iade his home. The death of his 
wife. \\)r\\ 7, iQio, was a great blow to him. He died Feb. 11, 
]9I3. Both are Ivuded in Pine ( irove Cemetery. Portland, ]\Ie. 
Children : 

I Harris Uasfiua);. b. Apr. t,, 1868: d. Jnly :;, 101 1. 

He graduated at H;irvard University in 1891. The degrees 
of A.B.. A.M. and Ph.D. have !)een conferred upon him. Went 
abroad and, while pursn'.ng studies in chenM.'-try under traveling- 
scholarship from the college, at Copenhagen. Denmark, he met 
the girl whom he subsequently made his v.dfe. She descended 
from the German royal family. Dr. Sawyer in 1908 entered the 
government service as an expert on the snliject of fernientation. 
under Dr. H. \\'. Wiley. He contracted a disease of the throat, 
in some of his exi^er".ments, which resulted ui his death at East 
Andover, X. H. Mis widow with her daughter. Helen ^Margaret, 
b. Jan. 16. 1890, returned to her j^ecple in Denmark, where they 
now reside. 

II. HFLr:x -AMEr.i.v. b. Boston, Oct. 22, 1873, resided with her 
parents till her mother's death. She is well educated and a highly 
accomplished ladw .'^he 's employed in the .Social Service De- 
partment of the Mass. General Hos])ital. P).:'Ston. Residence, 
Cambridge. Mass. 

III. Clarence Buck, b. Mar. 5, 1879, Boston; m. June 15. 
1934. P)ertha Ma_\-, (b.u. of Ceo. Hem-y and Susan \nn ( Hinkpy) 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIFLD 



553 




Miss He fen '/f. Sciwt/er - 



Watson, h. Felx 23, 1870. He i^raduated from l');)ston Latin 
School in. iSqo. Served in U. S. Xavv during' the war with 
Spain, and saw active service m the \\ est Indies in Cnban and 
Porto Rican waters and holds for bravery in action, a Congres- 
sional battle medal. Xow mechanical engineer with Dodge 
Al'f'g Co. Two children : 

Ricliarci Merrill Satcycr, b. Dorchester. Mass., July 3, 1507. 
.Irtliur Giliiuii! Sawyer, h. Aug. 22, IQ12. 

X.\ rii.\xii-:i. Ik'CK (see sketch) wa.- the third settler in the 
town. He marr'erl prior to coming here, Alary, dan. of John 
llrown. His death is not recorded on. the town records, l)Ut he 
is said to have died in 1817. His widow died in 1826, of which 
mention is made in the annal.s. Children, all but first three, born 
in lUickfield: 

John . 1). Xov. 15, 1770; m. Susannah Packard. 
Ellen, h. July 18, 1773; m. Levi Cushman. 

Xathauiel. J-., b. Sept. ig, 1775; m. Sarah 

Moses, b. Mar. 31, 1778; m. Sallv Lander. 

Mary, b. .\ug. 10, 1781 : m. Caleb Cusliman. , 

lidna, b. Oct. 2, 1783; ni. Capt. Jesse 'I'urner. 



554 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Wiliiam, h. Feb. 26, 1785; m. Martha Carsley. 
Daniel, b. May 2, 1788; m. Rebecca Sawyer. 
SaJiiitci, b. Sept. 25, 1790; m. Betsy Cushman. 
Elislia, h. April 17, 1794; m. Caroline Bridgham. 
Francis, h. 
Benjamin, b. ; s. in Foxcroft. 

John Buck, 3d, oldest son of Xathaniel Buck, b. Xov. 15, 
1770; m. Susannah Packard. He lived in the western part of 
the town on what has been called for a hundred years or more 
John Buck hill. His cousin, John Buck 2d, lived on the same 
hill on the opposite side of the road till he moved East about 
1 814. He died . She died . Children: 

Sally, b. Mar. 14, 1798; m. Air. Cothrell. 
Sylvenia, b. Dec. 2, 1799; d. un. 1883. 
Ellen, b. Aug. 14, 1801 ; m. Eliab Buck. 
Melser, b. Aug. 7, 1803 ; m. Almeda Farrar. 
Zelotes, b. Mar. 19. 1805; m. Sarah H. Crockett. 

George Wash.ington. b. ; m. Eliza Tuell. 

John, b. June 9, 1816; m. A1)by M. Morse. 

Melzer Buck, son of John Buck 3d, b. Aug. 7, 1803 ; m. 
Almeda Farrar. He died May 16, 1869. She died Sept. 20, 
1889. Children: 

Francis E., b. Oct. 16, 1831 ; d. Oct. 6, 1876. 

Vesta M., b. Mar. 3. 1833 ; d. Sept. 16, 1859. 

Josiah M., b. Mar. 28. 1835: d. Apr. 13. 1836. 

Hannah L., b. Mar. 31, 1837; resides in Boston; unm. 

Addison, b. Dec. 21, 1839. 

Augustus G., b. -Apr. 9, 1842. 

Arabinc A., b. May 14, 1844; d. Mar. 3, 1864. 

Ki)ig R.. b. Xov. 13, 1847; m. Isabella 

Miller J., h. Xov. 26. 18^9. 

Sarah P., h. Xov. 9, 1851; d. Apr. 3, 1852. 

John Buck, son of John Buck 3rd, b. June 9, 1816; m. Abby 
M. Morse. He was born and lived all his days on "John Buck 
Hill." He died Jan. 8, 1899, ''ged 82 years, 7 mos. Children: 

Leroy L., b. June 28, 1849; d. Aug. 6. 1872. 

Orlando J., h. Dec. 30, 1852; m. Lillian B. Brewer; s. in Chicago. 

Ada C., b. July 31. 1855; m. (i) Charles Tebbetts ; (2) Walter A'ler- 
rifield. 

Walter J., b. Dec. 24. 1858; m. and s. in To.as. 

Susan M., b. May 9, 1861 ; ni. Morris Hambro; 2d ; s. in Xew 

York. 

Harry H., b. Dec. 19, 1864: m. Katie Warren. 



HISTORY OF "nUCKFlELD 



555 




Orlando J. Buck 

Orlando J. Buck, son of the preceduig-, born in Buckfield, 
Dec. 30, 1852. was educated in the schools of the town and at the 
Oxford Normal Institute at South Paris. Before he was 21 
he taught several schools witli marked success, and in his 20th 
year he went to Boston. Mass.. and obtained a position in the 
Ouincy Market with .Mdrich & Co., where he remained for some 
five years with a yearly increase of wages. He was then offered 
a partnership, but having a flattering offer from the management 
of the Rubber Paint Company of Cleveland. ( )hio, he accepted 
it and soon was given charge of the manufacturing department 
of the company's X. Y. factory. In 188 1, the company having 
built a large new factory in Chicagc^, Air. Buck went there to 
take charge as superintendent, a position he has since held. He 
is one of the principal owners of the plant ar.d general manager. 
Mr. Buck married Jan. 21, 1880, Miss Lillian B. Brewer, born 
Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1856. They have three children: 

I Lillioii Har.cl. b. Cleveland, Ohio. Dec. 25, 1880, graduated at the 
University of Chicago in U)02 witli the degree of Ph. B. 



556 HISTORY OF BUCKFUiLD 

IT Xeison Lcroy, b. Chicago, 111., Dec. 2, 1S82, graduated at the Uni- 
versity of Chicago in 1904 with the degree of S. B. 

Ill EUsTvorth B czvcr, b. Chicago, III , July 3, 1892. 

Samuel Buck, son of Nathaniel, Sen., b. Sept. 25, 1790; 
m. Betsey Cushman, b. Oct. 24, 1794. He married 2d in April, 
1844, Mrs. Mahala Buck. He died Jan. 2, 1863. First wife 
died June 11, 1843. Children: 

Angdine, 1). July 12, 1814; d. Sept. 13, 1846; unm. 

Susan, h. Jan. 10, 1816; m. Joseph Barrows, Hebron. 

Rosina, b. ^lar. 31, 1818; m. Joseph Packard Blanchard. 

Isaac MflrriU, b. July 15, 1820; d. Mar. 5, 1841 ; unm. 

Francis C, b. Oct. 19, ^S22^, m. S. Louise Prince. 

Cephas C, b. June 8, 1825 ; ni. Annette B. Button. 

Elizabeth, h. July 31, 1827; m. Cyrenius King, res. Minneapolis, Minn. 

Cynthia S., b. Apr. 17, 1830; m. Caleb S. Richardson, Minot. 

Diantha, b. May 21, 1833; m. liro. of Joseph Packard Blancliard. 

Child by second wife: 

Cclia B., b. July 14, 1845; ni. Charles H. Danliam. 

Ei.isiiA Buck, brotlier of liie preceding-, b. April 17, 1/^)4; 
m. Caroline Bridgham. He died Mar. 24. 1854. She died at 
Bethel June 6. 1895, aged 09 years and 8 mos. Children: 

Clarissa A., b. April 22, 1817; m. Chandler Hutchinson. 
Caroline, b. Xov. 9, 1818; m. Cyrus Dean. 
Jenncttc, b. Sept. 3, 1820. 

Ambrose, b. Aug. 3, 1822; m. Mary J. Heald. 
Amanda F.. h. Sept., 1824. 
Lloyd, h. July 22, 1826; d. in 1857. 
Orville, b. Aug. 7, 1828; m. Helen M. Heald. 
Armiiifa. h. May 14, 1830; d. Jan. 31, 1897; "i- Geo. W. Battles. 
Lorcna J., h. May 24, 1833. 
■ I.ucretia, b. Aug. 31, 1836; d. Dec. 16, 1890. 
Albion J:, b. Aug. 13, 1838; m. Hattie Horton. 
Llezvellyn A., b. Aug. 17, 1840. 
Rosa Belle, b. May 5. iS47- 

Amukosi-: l5ucK, son of Elisha, b. Aug. 3. 1822; m. ]\lary J. 
Heald. Settled first in Buckfield, where he kept a public house 
Afterwards moved to Auburn, where he d. Dec. 6, 1889. Chil- 
dren recorded on lUickfield records : 

Standis/i. b. Jan. 28, 1848; Carro, b. Jan. 6, 1850; JVillie G. B.. b. Aug. 
24, 1858; d. July 5, 1859; Ezra IV., b. Feb. 9. 1861; Alden K., h. May 7. 
1864. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 557 

Orville Buck, brother of the preceding, b. Aug. 7, 1828; 
m. Helen -M. Heald. Giild : 

J lice J., b. Jan. 14. 1855. 

Albjox J. Blck, brother of the preceding", b. Aug. 13, 1838; 
ni. Hattie Horton. She died Sept. 17, 1870. Children: 
Seth Xonnaii, b. July 27, 1865 ; m. Nettie Kimball. 
Blanche, b. Xov. 17, 1867; d. June 10, 1886. 

George \\'a.shington Buck, son of John Buck 3(1, b. in 
Buckfield ; m. Eliza Tuell and settled in Sumner near Jackson 
\ illage. His wife died within a week after he did. Children: 

Polly, b. about 1837; m. Frederick Farrar. 

Charles T., b. June 20. 1839; m. Elizabeth (Dunham) Stinchheld. 

Clinton H., b. about 1843; "i- Marcena Irish. 

Henrietta, b. about 1846; m. Freeman Farrar. 

Boy d. very young. 

Louville, b. : m. Irish. 

Orville, b. ; ni. . 

Charles T., b. June 20, 1839; m. Elizabeth Stnchfield and 
settled in Paris on the Capt. Eleazer Dunham place near Snows' 
Falls. He was a soldier from Sumner in Co. C, 20th Maine, 
and served three years, and was at Round Top, Gettysburg. 
Children : 

Dr. Charles L., b. July 2?., 1868; m. Edith R. Davis. 

George E., b. Xov. 15, 1873 ; resides in Boston. 

Dr. Charles L. Buck, b. in Paris, July 28, 1868; m. Edith 
R., dau. of Dr. James W. and Ada J. (Dow) Davis. He acquired 
his education in the common schools of the town, Paris Hill, 
South Paris and Hebron academies, and for several years was a 
successful school teacher. At the age of 21 he began the study 
of dentistry in the office of Dr. James W. Davis at South Paris, 
whose daughter he subsequently married. After being in Dr. 
Davis' office for four years, he purchased the business and has 
since carried it on there. Dr. Buck has been very successful and 
is a very skillful dentist. He has always taken great interest in 
church and temperance matters and in all movements looking 
toward the improvement of social conditions and the. advance- 
ment of the best interests of the commtmity. He has been a 
member of the Methodist church for many years and for seven 
years has been the superintendent of the Sabbath school. He is 
one of the leaders of the Prohibitory party in the county. He is 



558 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 




Dr. C. L Buck 



also a prominent Odd Fellow and has held all the principal offices 
in the lodge. Children : 

Myrtle Elizabeth, b. Nov. i, 1891. 
Hazel Ada, b. May, 1896: d. Oct. 10. 1900. 
Iva Rivers, b. Mar.. 1898; d. in infancy. 
Olive yiay, b. ^lar., 1900. 

John Buck (see sketch) married Abigail Irish, dau. of John 
Irish of Gorham. He d. in \\'oodstock. March 4, 1828. aged 74. 
She died July 20, 1824. aged j;^. Children, all but two tirst. born 
in Buckfield : 

Sarah, h. Aug. u. 1777; m. Knorli Philbrick. 

Abigail, b. Feb. 5. 1779: m. Abijah Laphani. 

Simeon, h. Xov. 16, 1780; m. Lois Drew: s. in Woodstock. 

Esther, b. Oct. J5. 1782: m. Jolin Warren. Jr. 

Elizabeth, b. Xov. 20, 1784; m. Tilden Bartlett ; s. in Bethel. 

A)inis, b. Xov. 15. 1786; m. Levi Turner. 

Mary. b. Feb. 12. 1789; m. Luther Turne-. 

Phehe, h. Dec. 3, 1792; ni. ist. Benj. Brown. 2nd. Wni. R. Hemniing- 
wav of Riunford. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 559 

Simeon Buck, only son of above, b. Xov. i6, 1780; m. Lois, 

dan. of Stephen Drew, the Revokitionary soldier. They settled 

in Woodstock. Three of their children are recorded on the 

Ikickfield records: 

Stephen, b. Jan. i, 1803; in. Ruth Cumniings. 

John, b. Dec. 22, 1804; ni. Hannah Cmnmings. 

Eliza, b. Dec. 21, 1806; m. Samuel Matthews of Sumner. 

Harrison, b. ; went to Aroostook County. 

Jenisha. b. ; m. P.enj. Brooks. 

Bathsheba, h. : m. Nathaniel J. I'arnli.'im. 

Elb'-idgc. b. ; m. Lucrctia Parlin. 

Melissa, b. ; m. George Berry. 



Chase. 
The Chase family is an ancient one of great respectability, 
and supposed to be of Xorman origin. 'Jliere were families of 
that name living in Suffolk County, England, as early as 1326. 
There are numerous branches in this country. The Buckfield 
Chases trace their descent from Aquila Chase, mariner, supposed 
to have been born in Chesham, England, in 1618, and who came 
to America about 'i(^S9 with his brother Thomas. Another 
lirother \\'illiam came with Governor John \\'inthrop's colony in 
]r)30. Aquila Chase married Anne, daughter of John Wheeler 
of Hampton, X. H., about 1646. and settled in Xewbury, Mass., 
where he died Dec. 27, 1670. His wife survi\ed him and remar- 
ried. Ensign Moses, the 1 ith and youngest child of Aquila Chase, 
b. Dec. 24, 1663, m. i Xov. to, 1684. Ann Follansbee ; 2d in 
Dec, 1 71 3. Sarah Jacobs. He liad nine children, all by first wife. 
His thirfl child, Closes, b. Jan. 20, 168S, m. Oct., 1709, EHzabeth 
Wells of Amesbury. Their 6th child, Eleazer, b. July 25, 1722, 
ni. Jeannette Elder of Windham, Me., where 'he had come as a 
soldier with others to defend the settlement against the hostile 
attacks of the Indians. There were four children by this mar- 
riage, only two of whom survived, Isaac and Mary. Isaac m. 
Lois Smith and settled in Standish. His son Isaac m. his cousin 
Eunice, dan. of Rev. Xathaniel, and settled in that part of Tur- 
ner afterwards known as Chase's Mills. They were the jiarents 
of Hon. Solon Chase, famous in his day as the editor of "Chase's 
Chronicle" and founder of the Cireenback party. 

The wife of Eleazer Chase died and lie married Mrs. Mary 
!)ro\vn. formerlv of Marl)lehead. wliose first husband had been 



560 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

killed by the Indians, as elsewhere related. Air. Chase was not 
only an Indian scout and hunter but also a soldier in the French 
and Indian War and served a long period in the contest for Inde- 
pendence, though past the age when such service could be re- 
quired of him. By the last marriage he had four children, 
Betsey, who married Eben Cotton of Gorham, Rev. Xathaniel, 
b. 1761, Joseph, b. 1769, and one other child who died young. 
Eleazer Chase came to Bucktown in 1782 with wife and son 
Joseph, who had his settling lot, not being old enough to obtain 
one for himself, and died here in 1808, aged 86. 

Rf.\'. Xathaniel (see sketch in church history) was three 
times married: First to Rhoda Elliott of \\'indham in 1783. 
They had five children, three of whom died in infancy. 

Daniel, b. Mar. 18, 1785; m. Abigail Record. 

Dolly, b. Mar. 12, 1787: m. William Tuttle. 

The mother d. Apr. 22, 1789, and Air. Chase m. 2d. Sept. 3, 
1791, Jemima Haskell, and the}' had eleven children: 

Mercy, b. Sept. 4, 1792; m. William Walker of Peru. Betsey, b. Jan. 
2, 1794; m. Adam Knight of Peru. Eunice, b. Mar. 30, 1796; m. Isaac 
Chase, Esq., of Turner. Priscilla, b. May 4 ,1798; m. John Ellis of Can- 
ton. Xathaniel, b. June 29, 180,0; m. ist Eunice Wescott, 2d, Abby Gould, 
s. in Turner and Readfield. Salome, b. Apr. 13, 1802; d. Jan. 15. 1806. 
Miriam, b. Apr. i, 1804; m. Nathan Morrill. Jol^, b. June 29, 1806; m. 
Rebecca D. Latham; s. in Turner and Livermore. Thomas, h. June 6, 
1808; m. Esther M. Daggett. JJ'illiam, b. Jan. 25, ]8ii ; m. Vesta Fernald 
of Buckfiekl. Isaac, h. Apr. 6, 1815; m. ist, Philena F. Swett : 2d, Angelia 
Shackley, s. in Peru. 

The second wife of Rev. X^athaniel Chase d. Dec. 14. 1831, 
"aged 61,'' and he m. 2^^ Airs. Joanna Briggs, dau. of Dea. W'm. 
Berry, Feb. 20, 1833. He died in Btickfield of typhoid fever 
Apr. 20, 1853, aged nearly 92." His widow survived him many 
3^ears. 

Daniel Chase, Esq., oldest son of Rev. Xathaniel Chase, 
b. Mar. 18, 1785 ; m. Abigail Record. For many years he was 
prominent in town affairs and was twice chosen a representative 
to the Legislature. He d. July 8, 1855. .She d. Alar. 30, 1844. 
Children : 

Daniel. Jr., b. Apr. 13, 1807; m. Betsey Allen. 

Daiid R.. b. Dec. 26, 1808; d. unm. in So. Boston, Jul\% 1852. 

Jacob E., b. May 8, 181 1 ; d. in B., Feb., 1853. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 561 

Charles G., b. Sept. 5, 1813; m. Margaret Lamb; s. in New York. 
Stcf>hen D., b. Aug. 1, 1817; ni. Olive Briggs ; s. in Flebron. 
O'''"-^' <^-. Ij- Sept. I, 1819; m. Lucy Record; one child. Abliy, d. in in- 
fancy. 

khoda A., b. Mar. \2. 1822; d. July, i8.?4. 

Daxiee Ciia.se, son of the preceding, b. April 13, 1807; i^""- 
I'etsey Allen. Settled in Boston; returned to Buckfield. Ciiil- 
(Iren : 

Jairus A„ b. Aug. 18, 1841. 

Chas. A., h. ^lar. 18, 1847; m. Sarah J. ^Mitchell. 

G. Allen, b. Aug. 27, 1852; d. in B., Sept. 30, 1854. 

Hox. Thomas Chase (see biog. sketch) m. Esther M. Dag- 
gett. He died Mar. 13, 1866. She died July 13, 1887. Children: 

Maloiia R., b. July 17, 1835; '"• Dr. Chas. D. Bradbury. 

Roscoe G., b. Nov. 3, 1837; m. Ellen E. Gerrish; s. in Geneva, N. Y. 

Ahhie P., b. Oct. 2^,, 1830: m. ^L Dana Holbrook of Maiden, Mass. 

Charles, b. July 18. 1841, k. in liattle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 

George H., b. ^lay 5, 1844; m. Maranda Morton of Paris; s. in 
!NL'dden. Mass. 

Ho-uvrd .-/., b. Oct. 15. 1846; ni. Mary E. Gibbs ; s. in Philadelphia. Pa. 

Lucy A., b. May 20, 1849; d. Nov. 22, i860. 

JViii. D.. h. Aug. 26, 1852; m. Lizzie C. Witliington; s. in Auburn. 

Homer X., b. Sept. 30, 1855; m. Emma E. Emerson. 

Children of !\Ialona R. Chase and Dr. Chas. Dana Bradbury 
('marriage Apr. 26, 1854) : 

Tlioinas, b. April 16, 1855; Charles D.. h. July 9, 1858; Rolfe, b. Mar. 
12, 1861 and Abbie L., b. Jan. 7, 1864. 

Children of Abbie F. Chase and M. Dana Holbrook (mar- 
riage Dec. 13, 1865, at So. Braintree, Mass.) : 

William Chase, b. Apr. 30, 1868; Annie L., b. June 27, 1870; Antoinette 
Kimball, b .Aug. 17, 1873 and Roscoe G., Dec. 2j, iSjj. 

Hox. William Cha.se, son of Rev. Nathaniel, b. Jan. 20, 
181 1 ; m. Vesta Fernald in 1835. He was prominent in town 
affairs for several years, and served on the board of county com- 
missioners. He died after 1900. His wife died Pel). 14, 1899. 
Children : 

Persis .\f., b. .\pr. 26, 1837; m. Thos. W. Bowman. 

Wm. jr., b. Dec. 15, 1840; d. Feb. 15, 184T. 

Mar\ F.,h. Apr. 20, 1842; m. Nathan I). Harlow; had one child, 
Gertrude, b. 1867; d. Aug. 15, 18C8. 

Alice A., h. Mar. 16, 1851. 

Another child died in infancy. 

Children of Persis M. Chase and Thomas W. Bowman (mar- 
riage Dec. 28, 1857) : 

Fred Earle, b. Jan. i. 1864. .Another child d. in infancy. Tlic mother 
died Sept. 17, 1869. 



562 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Joseph Chase (see sketch), son of Eleazer, b. 1769; m. ist 
Hannah Elliott, 2d Anna Legrow. He died in 1814, "aged 45." 
First wife died. 1795. Children by first wife: 

Rhoda, b. Nov. 8, 1790; m. Bernard Pompilly. 
Hannah, b. Mar. 20. 1795; m. Daniel Tuttle, Jr. 

Children by second wife : 

Joseph, Jr., h. Mar. 30. 1797; m. Almira Shaw. 

Eleazer, b. Aug. 12, 1798; m. Ann Kneeland ; d. Feb. 10, 18S5. 

Mary, b. Aug. 11, 180 1 ; m. Amos Shaw. 

Nancy, b. Sept. 20, 1802 ; m. Alvah Gilbert. 

Joseph Chase, son of the preceding", b. '\\3.x. 30, 1797; m. 
Almira Shaw. Children : 

Elmira Jane, h. Alar. 23, iSid; ni. Ras?elas Cole. 
Miriam, h. Nov. 5. 1818; m. Lucian Philbrick. 
Sitrali .Inn, h. Feb. 5, 1825; d. Apr. i, 1848. 
Lett.'is M., b. June 2t„ 1830 ; m. Eunice Cole. 

Lewis M. Ch.\se, son of the preceding, b. June 2T,, 1830; ni. 
1st Eunice Cole, 2d Eva Uisbee. Children recorded on town 
records : 

Julia Ella, h. Feb. 23, 1849; Sat ah Jane, b. Aug. 17, 1850; .iinanda 
Josephine, b. June 16, 1852; Ellen Shaw, h. Dec. 14, 1833; Mary .Iniia; 
Ellsworth : Harrison: Eunice. 



Chesley. 

Samuel Chesley purchased the Taylor farm in the southern 
part of the town and moved there with hi? family before the 
census was taken in 1850. His age at that time as given the 
enumerator was 50. The age of his wife Sarah was 49. In his 
family at that time was his mother, Sarah Chesley Pratt, aged 
83. Shortly after she had married Thaddeus Pratt, the Revo- 
lutionary soldier, for her second husband, he had died and she 
obtained a pension. .Samuel Chesley lived in the Waldron neigh- 
borhood in the western part of the town for many years. He 
exchanged farms with Jabez Taylor or his son. W illiam L. 
Taylor. Nicholas Chesley from New Glouctster, who had mar- 
ried Sarah Hammond, was an early settler in the vicinity of Mt.- 
Mica in Paris. He was born, according to the Paris History, at 
Dover, N. H., in Nov.. 1750. They havi seven children, one of 
whom was Samuel, b. Oct. 3T, T788. Pie married Patty Perry, 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 563 

and finally settled in Lincoln, Mc. At one time he run a distillery 
in Paris. The Buckfield Sanniel was no doubt connected with 
the family of Xicholas. He had a brother Moses, b. in 1807, 
who married Mrs. Ruth (Brown) Dean. He settled in Oxford. 
At one time he was a deputy sheriff, and a terror to violators of 
the prohibitory law. Samuel Chesley and his wife lived to be 
past 80 and died in Hebron. She was over 90 years old when 
she passed away. Children : 

Marictte, h. 1822; d. 1844. 

Betsey, b. June 6, 1824; m. Moses Jordan. She is living- in Hebron 
(1915) at 91 years of age. Her husband d. in Jan., 1887. 

Adaliuc, h. Dec. 11, 1826; d. April, 191 1. 

Caroline, b. Dec. 11, 1826; d. April, 1905. 

/. Madison, h. Aug. 30, 1828; m. Narcissa Jordan, res. Auburn. 

Sarah I.., b. Oct. 30, 1838; m. A. Judson Merrill. Sbe died Oct. 10, 
1.896. 

Churchill. 

Jaiilz Churchill, one of the first settlers of that name and 
a Revolutionary soldier, came from Plymouth county, Alass., 
with his family about 1798 and settled in the mountain district. 
He lived to be quite aged and received a pension. He was 
])robably a descendant of John Churchill, who came from Eng- 
land to Plymouth in 1643. '^'^'^^^ settled there. He m. in 1644, 
Hannah, daughter of Wm. Pontus. The line of descent is as fol- 
lows : Eleazer, b. 1652, m. Mary Winslovv, a descendant of Mary 
Chilton of the Mayflower colony. Elkanah m. Susanna Man- 
chester. Elkanah m. Susanna Bartlett. They had Susanna, 
1749; Meriah, 1751 ; Elkanah, 1754; Jabez, 1756; Abigail, 1760; 
Andrew, 1763, and perhaps others. From an afBdavit made by 
Jabez Churchill in 1820, it appears that he was born in 1756, 
and hence we conclude that the Jabez named alx)ve born the same 
year, was the Jabez who settled in Buckfield. His children are 
not recorded on our records, but he had : 

Shcpard. b. about 1785 ; m. Polly Dudley. 

Josiah, b. May 13, 1787; ni. Rachel Curtis. 

Mafheii.-, b. ; m. Dolly Hall. He settled near Pnrtland, was a 

Whig, the only one in tlie family and was elected representative to tlie 
legislature. 

Bela, h. about 1789; m. Sarah Dudley. 

Ruliama, b. about 1795; rn. Amos Winslow. 



564 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Shepard Churcpiii.l, son of the preceding, b. about 1785 ; m. 
Polly Dudley. He died after the census was taken in i860. 
Children : 

Samuel, b. Apr. i, 1809; m. Lavinia Packard. 
Martin, b. Apr. 12, 181 1; m. Betsey ChurchiU. 

Mary Am:, b. ; m. Lebbeus Robbins. 

Sarah, b. ; m. Hanson Brown. 

Nathan, b., about 1820; m. Harriet Tbomas. 
Josiah, b. Dec. 4, 1825 ; m. Tryphenia Holt. 
Shepard, b. May 15, 1830; never married. 
Lucy Aiui, b. ; m. .Augustus V. Wasbburn. 

Sawuel Churchill, son of the preceding, b. Apr. i, 1809; 
m. Lavinia Packard. Children : 

Coredlia S., b. Aug. 31, 1833; m. Paine. 

£rra F., h. Mar. 23, 1839 ; m. Ricb. 

Charles C, b. Dec. 23, 1840; m. Rich. 

Elizabeth E., b. Jan. 7, 1846 ; m. Xelson. 

Julia A., b. Sept. 13, 1849; "i- Henry Hodgdon. 

Martin Churchill, bro. of the preceding, b. Apr. 12, 181 1 ; 
m. Betsey Churchill. He died Jan. 27, 1876. Children : 

Nathaniel, b. Apr. 6, 1834; m. Harriet . 

Hannah, b. Jan. 4. 1836; m. Washburn. 

Emily, b. Dec. 15, 1837 ; "i- Briggs. 

Amanda, b. Aug. 15, 1839; m. Burns. 

Clarinda. b. Mar. 21, 1845 ; m. Jonathan M. Shedd. 
Asaph, h. Mar. 4, 1848; ni. Fanny M. Murcli. 

Rosamond, b. Apr. 16, 1850 ; m. Harris. 

Flora J., b. Dec. 28, 185 1 ; m. Charles Hannaford. 

Bela Churchill, son of Jabez, b. about 1789; m. Sarah 
Dudley. He was a mechanic, gunsmith and miller, and had a 
small grist mill and machine shop on the small brook which flows 
between Owls Head and Streaked ^It., then often called Owl's 
Head Village. They died after i860. Children: 

Jane, b. Jan. 8, 1814; Maria, h. 'Slay 9, 1817. m. Demeric Swan and 
bad Ambrose, Lorinda M., m. Adelbert S. Jordan and Opheh'a who m. 
Otis G. Turner, Jr. 

Cilley. 

William Cilley (anciently spelled in various ways but more 
commonly Silley — now Cilley), b. in X. H., was a soldier in the 
French and Indian war. Served in 1758 in the Crown Point 
expedition. Settled in Gorham. Me., and m. Anna Clark, b. Sept. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 565 

1. 1733. Moved to IKickheld and late in lite to Urooks, where 
he died in 181S. The Gorham histor\- and Cilley genealogy 
relating to this family are both imperfect and do not agree, and 
we cannot be certain as to names and dates. Children : 

John, b. ; 111. 1786, Molly Murcli. 

Ma>'y, b. 1756; m. Enoch Leathers; s. in Sangervillc. 

Bciij., b. 1758; m. 1st. Patty Parsons; 2nd, Sally Xewt. 

Sarali. b. ; m. in 1777, Amos Brown. 

.-Iliigail, b. ; m. Richard Knight. 

Elicabcth, h. ; m. in 1784, Benj. Skillings. 

Aiiiu!, b. Apr. g, 1768; m. Zachariah Weston. 

fanny, b. .-\pr. 9. 1768; m. Joseph Lombard, 1788. 

Jl'iliiaiii, Jr., b. Mar. 27, 1770; m. 1793. Sa.rah Boimey, 2nd, Mary 
W'aterhouse. 

HannaJi, b. Apr. 19, 1772; m. 1793, Caleb Lombard. 

Peter, b. Apr. 19, 1772; m. Patty Teague. 

Siiiioii, b. June 13, 1774; m. Polly Teague. 

CoBURN. 

Thomas Coburn (see sketch) was of Dracut, Mass., prior 

to his settlement in Bucktown. He m. Ruth . They 

settled on North Hill. He died Sept. 27, 1804. The heirs sold 
the real estate to Daniel Howard, Esq., and moved away. The 
widow probably died about 1806. Children recorded on town 
records : 

Ruth, b. Jan. 12, 1763. 

Thomas, Jr., b. May 16, 1766. 

Dolly, h. Mar. 6, 1769. 

Sarah, b. Feb. 25, 1773; m. Valentine Mattlicws or John W. Elliott. 

Sybil, h. Sept. 29, 1777; m. Simeon VVescott. 

JoxAS Coburn (see sketch) supposed brother of the preced- 
ing, was a settler in Bucktown before Jan. i, 1784. He settled 
on a lot adjoining Thomas's. He married Lucy A'arnum. They 
moved away soon after 1800. Children recorded liere : 

Sally, h. Sept. 5, 1771; m. Jolm W. Elliott or Valentine Matthews. 

Jona.<;, Jr., b. Jan. 11, 1774; m. Hannah }»Iatthews. 

Asa J'arnunt, b. Jan. 19, 1777. 

Lucy, b. Apr. 8, 1779. 

Betsey, b. Feb. 13, 1781. 

Silas, b. Jan. 24, 1783. 

Hannah, b. .\pr. 14, 1785; m. Seth Harris. 

Me-cy, b. Oct. 22, 1787; m. Josiah Drew. 

Peter, b. Sept. 3, 1791. 



566 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Cole. 
The present Coles of Buckfield are descended from an ancient 
Plymouth County, Mass., family. Lemuel Cole of this line, son 
of John, born in 1766, married Elizabeth Dunham, born in 1769, 
and resided in Carver, adjoining Plymouth. He emigrated with 
his family to Maine in 1805, coming from Plymouth to Hallowell 
in a sloop, thence journeying with an ox team to Hebron, where 
he settled at the foot of Number 4 Hill. The following year he 
removed to Hartford, settling in the Bear Mountain district and 
becoming a permanent resident. He was a sweet singer and a 
well-known composer of sacred music, many of his compositions 
appearing in the singing books of his day. With rude facilities 
he made a bass viol, which was a wonder in the settlement. He 
died March 8, 1849, ^g'ed 83. She died Aug. 22, 1850. aged 81. 
Children all born in Massachusetts : 

Betsey, m. Allen Sturtevant. 
Jolfii, d. aged 21. 
Nancy, m. Thomas Allen. 
Sally, m. Willard Lucas. 
Ebcnezer, m. Betsey Parsons. 
Lemuel, Jr., m. Lydia Lucas. 

Lemuel Cole, Jr., son of preceding, was born in Carver, 
Mass., Jan. 4, 1804. He came to Hartford, Me., with his 
father's family when about two years of age. He m. Lydia, dau. 
of Dea. Isaac Lucas. She was born, also, in Carver, Nov. 6, 
1803, and came with her parents from that town to Hartford 
when four years of age, riding tlie whole distance in an ox cart. 
Like most of the settlers, the Cole family had no abundant means, 
and Lemuel, at an early age, was thrown upon his own resources. 
After his marriage and settlement on a small farm, he learned 
the carpenter's trade of Dea. Ira Bartlett, working for four 
shillings per day. He grew prosperous, acquired a large farm 
and became the most prominent building contractor in the vicin- 
ity, employing many workmen and erecting buildings in all parts 
of his own and surrounding towns. In the spring of 1861 he 
moved to Buckfield, where he passed his remaining years. He 
was a man of great industry, energy and business ability. He 
had slight educational advantages, but became well-informed and 
kept in close touch with public affairs. He died Oct. 6, 1877. 
His wife died Aug. 17, 1886. Children all born in Hartford: 



HISTORY OP^ BL'CKFII-.LD 5(57 

Rdzvard Gisby, b. Sept. 27, 1827; d. young. 

Sarah Bennett, b. Sept. 27, 1830; m. Peter D. Holbrook; s. in Brain- 
tree, Mass. 

Edward Gisby, b. Aug. 2t„ 1832; m. ist Martha E. Holbrook of Ran- 
dolph, Mass.. 2nd, Al)bie C. Ellis of Sumner. 

J'ir<iii, h. Xov. 10, 183^; m. 1st, Klizal)cth Hodgdon, 2nd, Emma Gur- 
ne\', resides in Canton. 

Ma tint .v., b. Nov. 13, 1837. 

^■Idclia F., b. Feb. 18, 1840; d. Dec. 22, 1856. 

Alfred, b. ,May 16, 1843. 

Edward G. Cole, son of the preceding, has had settlements in 
various towns, but (hiring most of his married Hfe has resided 
in Simmer and lluckheld. He is a carpenter by trade, liaving 
been prominently identified, during the past forty years with the 
linilding and mechanical work of the village, and was many y,:irs 
in business as an undertaker. Children by his second wife, .\l)bie 
(Ell's): 

Ildi^'ard H.. h. in Hartford, July 2ii, 1861 ; m. Dora Knight; s. in 
Turner. 

Arthur E., b. Sept. 22, 1863, studied dentistry at which he 
worked several years in Boston and other places, and then re- 
turned to his native town where he has since remained in the 
practice of his profession. He has served on the board (^f select- 
men, and is prominent in fraternal orders, and has held the office 
of District Deputy Grand Master of both AFasons and ( )dd bel- 
lows. He married Alyrtie .M., dan. of Cyrus C. S]')aulding, and 
has : 

ElU'ii S., b. in Cambridge. Mass., Apr. 3, 1804; .irlluir H., h. Mar. 9, 
looi and Cyrus /:., b. Sept. 22, 1902. 

Alfrmd T. Coi.e, b. in Hartford,, Sept. 4, 1867 ; m. Sept. 30, 
i8q6, Josephine E., dan. of Dr. Joseph C. Caldwell. He was a 
clerk several years in the store of Isaac W. Shaw, and since Xov., 
1899, has been in trade in the Ephraim Atwood store in partner- 
ship with Nathan E. !\[orrill. 

Alfred Cole, youngest son of Lemuel, Jr., came in the 
spring of 1861 with his father's family to I'uckfield, where he 
lesided to his death, March 13, 1913. He was one of the com- 
piers of this volume. (See sketch). He married, Jid\- 7, 1S78, 
Mar\' E. Storer, dau. of Xalhan (V .Storer. Children: 

.l/(n-.v .v.. b. Feb. 19, 1886. 

.in'red S., b. Oct. 9. 1893. 



568 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

William Cole, then a young man, came here about 1810. 
The next year he m. Lapira Spaulding. He purchased the cloth- 
ing works of \\ illiam Campbell, and carried on the business for 
many years. He was the weal'ihiest man in Buckfield of his time. 
He d. July 5, 1S41. She d. Aug. 14. 1852. Children: 

Addison C. b. Feb. 8. 1812; m. Saiab A. DeCoster. 

Cyrus, b. Feb. 26. 1814. 

MyrtiUa, b. July 16. 1S16: m. Geo. Bridgham, Jr. 

IVilliain L., b. Jan. 20. 181Q; m. Cordelia Allen. 

Lydia E., b. July 21. 1821 ; m. Josepb J. Willis. 

Maria L., b. June 3. 1824. 

.liirdius J'., b. Mar. 30. 1827: m. Lucy A. Hall. 

Rothcus M., h. Sept. 8, 1830. 

Melissa S., b. Jan. 5, 1834; m- Charles A. Allen. 

Mary L., b. Jan. 9, 1838. 

Addlsox G. Cole, oldest son of the preceding, b. Feb. 8, 1812; 
m. Sarah A. DeCoster. He carried on the wool carding business 
in Buckfield for many years. He died in Auburn, Jan. 2, 1896. 
His wife d. !Mar. 10. 1898. Children: 

Sarah B.. b. Aug. 6, 1836; d. Aug. 21, 1836. 

James J., b. Sept. 17, 1837; d. Feb. 17. 1838. 

Adrianna, b. Dec. 2, 1838; d. Jan. 18, 1840. 

Julia A., b. July 17, 1840; d. Nov. 10, 1843. 

William A., h. Mar. 19. 1843 ; Sarah A., b. July 6, 1845 : Cyrus IV., h. 
Dec. 15. 1848: Frank L.. b. Xov. 10. 1852; Li::zic D.. b. Jan. 14. 1856; d. 
Jan. 24. 1861 : Harry G.. h. Dec. 6. 1858. 

Artem.\s F. Cole, perhaps bro. of first William, m. Hepsibah 
Atwood. For many years he was in business as a merchant at 
Buckfield village. He d. May i. 187;. She d. Feb. 17. 1897, 
"aged 91 years." Children : 

Helen M ., b. Oct. 10. 1S30; m. George Gregg. 

Josefhine, b. Mar. 31. 1836. 

Rasselas Cole, son of Gershom and Polly (Bessey) of Paris, 
b. Feb. 15, 1810; m. Almira Jane Chase and settled on Xorth Hill. 
He died Aug. 26. 18^)4. She died July 5. 1895. Child: 

Mary Shaz^-. b. Xov. 20. 1844: m. Horatio G. Davie. 

CrsiiMA.x. 

The Cushmans who settled in this part of Ala'ne claim descent 
from Robert Cushman. an agent and promoter of the Plymouth 
colonv. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 569 

Gideon Cusiimax, son of Caleb, b. Xov. 20, 1750. was an 
early settler in Shepardsfielcl. lie m. in 1772, Ruth, dau. of Capt. 
Nathaniel Shaw of Plympton, and had 12 children. He had been 
a sailor and also a soldier in the War for Independence. His 
wife d. Dec. 19, 1836. He d. May 7, 1845, in his 95th year. 

Le\i Cu-Shman, son of the preceding^, b. Aug. 14, 1773: m. in 
1796, Ellen Buck, and settled in Ikickfield. She d. Apv. 8, 1802, 
and he m. 2d, Rhoda French. She d. in ( Jxford, Feb. 7, 1852. in 
her 8T,d year. Children : 

Polly, b. June 10. 1707: m. Isaac BoL^ter. Jr.; s. in Harrison. 
Rlranor Ruth, I). June 10, ijcy; m. Henry Blake; s. in Patten. 

Eliza, b. iSo-i: m. Chandler Record. 

Sullkan, b. Mar. 13, 1805; m. Clarissa J. Trilxtu. 

SoloDwii, h. Mar. 7, 1807; d. June 2^. 1827. 

Rhoda P., b. Sept. it,. 181 i ; ni. John W. Fogg; s. in Harrison. 

C.\LEi; Cusiimax. bro. of ilie preceding;, b. Feb. 28, 1779; 
m. Polly Buck. He settled in Buckfield. He d. Jan. 23, 1859. 
.She d. Mar. 14. 1858. Children: 

Cephas, b. Oct. i, 1802 ; d. Oct. 26. 1825. 
Sophronia, b. June 20. iSo^ ; ni. Stephen Riilnnson. Paris. 
Mary (Polly), b. May 22, 1806; m. Rolan Foster. 
Caleb. Jr.. h. ^lay 20. i8o8; m. Everline Bridgbam. 
Ruth, 1). Aug. 4. 1810; m. H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Alexander, h. Xov. 17. 1812: m. Ruth J. Bolster. 
Gideon, h. Dec. 24. 1815; m. Eveline Bicknell. 
Zilpha, b. July 2"/. 1818; ni. Amory H. Allen, 
Levi, b. July 3, 1820; ni. Cordelia Hall. 

Calee Cusiim.\x, Jr., son cjf the preceflinsj^, b. May 20. 180S; 
m. Everline Bridghani. He d. May 10, 1885. She d. Feb. 6, 
]86t, in Auburn, buried in Buckfield. Children: 

L^icy Ann, b. Jan. 11, 1837; m. Bennett B. Record. 

Charles P., b. July 26, 1838; s. in Boston. 

Everline B., b. May 28, 1840; m. John Bicknell. 

Rosctta, h. Oct. iS. 1843; m. Charles lllsley. 

Florence, b. June 14, 1853; m. Dr. Rotheus \V. Taylor; s. in Portland. 

Alkx.\xi)ER Ci\SHM.\x, bro. of the preceding", b. Xov. 17, 
1812; m. Ruth J. Bolster. Children: 

Lorenzo, b. Sept. 2, 1844; Mary, b. Xov. 5. 1847; Cynthia B., b. Aug. 
7, 1848; Frances, h. Xov. 6, 1852; Herman, b. June i, 1863. 

(jIdeox Cu?hm.\x, bro. of the ])receding. b. Dec. 24. 1815; 
m. F\eline Bicknell. She d. May 4, 1868. Children : 



570 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Amanda F., b. Apr. 8, 1840; Samitel E., b. l^ec. 27. 1841 : Julia F.. b. 
Dec. 25, 1843; Cordelia R., h. June 14. 1847. 

Xathaxiei. Cushmax. bro. of Levi ante, b. Jan. 2h, 1782; 
m. Lucy Murdock. Children: 

Xathanicl, Jr., h. Apr. 4. i8o8; Lewis, h. Sept. 21, 1810; .S'(7//v. b. Mar. 
27, 181 2. 



DAGr.KTT. 

The family name was formerly called Boggett. and i.-; of 
g'reat antiquity. Those of this nanie in Xew England, trace their 
descent from John Daggett, who emigrated from England in 
Gov. John Wlnthrop's company of 1630, and they claim that he 
is a lineal descendant of John Daggett, who lived in London 
about 1275 'I'-^'^l ^^"^s '•^^ royal descent. John' Daggett, the Ameri- 
can ancestor, settled in W'atertown, !Mass., in 1642. He after- 
wards removed to ^lartha's A'ineyard. One of his sons was Dea. 
John- Daggett, who was prominent in town affairs at Attleboro, 
^lass., where he lived. Of the children of Ebeuezer'' Daggett 
of the third generation was Samuel* Daggett, b. Jan. 3, 1731. 
Another son graduated at Yale College in 1744. He because a 
Doctor of Divinity and for many years ot¥iciated at head of the 
institution. Samuel's* son John"" Daggett wrs b. in Lebanon, 
Conn., in 1753. and servetl as a soldier in the Revolution nearly 
through the whole war. In 1780 he move;! to \'ermont and from 
thence in 1802 to Greenfield, Pa. Don Delance" Daggett, one of 
his sons, b. in Hebron, Conn., in 1780, did not. however, emigrate 
to Pennsylvania, but having ii'.arried Susan Root, removed to 
Buckfield where he began on the north side of the river, the 
manufacture of hats, as elsewhere related. His children were : 

Horace, <. in Auburn and d. there. 

Henry, murdered in La. 

Xelsoii. went to Florida and d. there. 

Florilla, m. William Irish of Hartford. 

Esther, m. Hon. Thomas Chase of Buck-held. 

P--i'cline, m. Thomas Irish. Jr.. of Buckheld. 

Isaac, s. in Mass., drowned in Xeponset river. 

Willimn, s. in San Francisco, California, ami d. there. 

Charles, s. in Portland and d. there. 

Tlie last seven were all born in Buckheld village. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 571 

Davis. 

Gershom Davis (see sketch), a Revolutionary soldier, was 
from Gorham prior to coming to Bucktown. He m. Elizabeth 
McAllister. He d. Jan. 30, 1842, "aet. 83 years." She d. May 5, 
1820, "aet. 65 years." Children : 

Stephen, b. Sept., 18, 1780. 

Abigail, b. May 30, 1782. 

Joseph H., b. Nov. 26, 1784, m. Rebecca McCorrison. 

Deliverance, b. Dec. 5, 1786; m. Damon. 

Polly, b. Feb. 26, 1789. 

Betsey, b. Feb. 11, 1792; m. Rol)ert Pierce. 

Margery, b. June 15, 1794; m. Thomas Damon 

Mercy, b. Aug. 26, 1799; m. Joel Foster. 

Joshua Davis, sup. bro. of the preceding, also from ( iorham 
and a Revolutionary soldier, m. Elizabeth Cole. Children : 
Samuel, b. Feb. 24, 1793. 
Sally, b. Oct. 7, 1795; m. John X. Hodge. 
Abigail, b. Feb. 25, 1797; m. Thomas Ganmion. 
Betsey, h. May 11, 1805. 
Heruniii. b. May 9. 181 1. 

Davie. 

Simeon Davie, a descendant of Sir John Davie of Creedy, 
Devonshire, England, in the 6th generation, m. Susanna Pratt 
of Bridgewater. They came from tlie old colony and settled in 
Hebron about a mile from the Buckfiekl line. The mother of 
Susanna Davie was Isabel (Downie) Pratt, who came from 
Scotland with her father and a brother, William. The son died 
and the father went back to Scotland. She married I'.arnabas 
I^ratt. Her son, Thaddeus, was in the battle of Hunker Hill and 
she hearing the roar of the guns at her home in Bridgewater, be- 
came so excited that she was burnt severely by a coal of fire fall- 
ing on her arm before she noticed it. After her husband's death 
she came to live with her daughter in Hcl)ron. She was nearly 
103 years old at the time of her death, Dec. 24, 1831. The 
daughter, Susanna Davie, d. Dec. 14, 1847. The line of descent 
to Simeon is: (i) Humphrey, Boston, 1666, man of note; (2) 
William; (3) Robert, m. Deborah Howes, descendant of Elder 
William Brewster, and Gov. Thomas Prence ; (4) Thomas, m. 
(2d w.) Hannah Rogers, a descendant of the martyr. Rev. John 
Rogers. Children : 



572 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Sarch, b. Xov. 2S, 1780; m. Jabez Barrows. 

Catherine, h. Apr. 15. 1701 ; m. Joshua Whirnian. BuckReld. 

Simeon, h. Apr. 14. 1794: m. Mehitable Stinchneld. 

Solomon, b. June 5, 1796: m. Rachel Mason: s. in Leeds. 

Sitsantta, h. ^NTay 3, 1799: m. John Packard. Buckrield. 

Deborah, b. Nov. 6, iSoo; nj. Samuel Packard. Buckfield. 

George, b. Oct 22, 1802; m. Sophronia Bjcknell. 

Barnabas, b. Jan. i, 1805 ; m. and s. in Leeds. 

Polly, h. ^lay 5. 1807; m. Elias Perkins. ^Minor. 

J'irgil M.. h. Mar. 22. 180Q. 

Harrison C, b. Sept. 22, 181 1 ; m. Content L^'throp. 

Wealthy, b. Xov. 4, 1818: m. William Monk. 

Deax. 

The Deans of Bucklield and Paris are descended from Walter 
Dean, who came from Chard near Taunton, England, in 1637 
and settled on the Taunton river in the old colony. He \vas a 
prominent man in his section. From him the line of descent is 
traced as follows : \\ alter. Joseph. Benjamin, Israel, Josiah, 
Asa and Asa, Jr. The latter m. Clarissa Holland and settled on 
the homestead in Paris. Children : 

Betsey, b. Mar. 2.^, 1814: ni. Howard Mosier. The mother d. in 1S21. 
and the father in. 2d Mrs. Hannah Barbour. 

Benj. jr.. b. Apr. 21. 1824; m. Matilda : 2d Martha Pottle. 

Horatio, b. Sept. 23, 1826: d. young. 

William H., b. Sept. 12, 1828; d. young. 

J. Robinson, b. Aug. 7. 1831 : m. Laura Taylor. 

J. RoBixsox De.\x. son of the preceding, b. Aug. 7. 1S31. m. 
Laura Taylor. He d. Xov. 18. 1900. She d. Mar. 3. 1899. 
Children: William Taylor b. Dec. 31. i8tx); d. Dec. 29. 1890. 
Georgie E.. b. Sept. 8, 1871 : Laura Z., b. Jime 20. 1876. 

De Coster. 

The tradition in the DeCoster families is that two brothers of 
that name came from France and settled in the old colony. 
They were descendants of a French marquis, who was a Hugue- 
not refugee on account of the Revocation of the Edict of Xantes. 
They agreed that one should spell his name DeCoster and the 
other DeCosta, that their progeny might the better be identified. 
Anthony DeCoster bought land in Plymouth in 1723. His wife's 
name was Toanna. Tlieir children were Robert. Jacob. Mar- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 573 

r 

garet and perhaps others. Jacob married EHzabeth, dau. of John 
t'ole in 1745. An Ebenezer DeCoster was a drummer boy in the 
War for Independence. He settled in X. H. and married the 
youngest dau. of Col. John Goffe, who took him home sick and 
half starved at \^alley Forge. Whether he was related to the 
family who settled in Hebron is not positively known. Jacob 
DeCoster and his wife, Priscilla Rogers, a descendant of the 
martyr of Smithfield, came from ijridgewater, ^Mass., in 1786 
and settled in that part of Hebron, known fifty years ago as 
"Sodom" and died there on the farm since called the DeCoster 
]3lace. He was a sailor on a vessel engaged in the coasting trade 
and was at Charleston. S. C, when the news of the battles of 
Concord and Lexington and the closing of the Port of Boston 
was received there. The agent in Charleston would not let the 
vessel depart for fear of its being captured. Jacob DeCoster 
made the journey home to Bridgewater on foot. Tradition says 
he was nearly two months on the way. He d. Aug. 4, 1830, 
"aged 84.'' His wife d. May 7, 1830, '"aged 79." Children: 

Jacob, Jr., b. May 27, 1774; m. Snsan .Morse. 

Sainuc], b. Aug. 15, 1776; m. Sarah Bacon. 

Chandler, h. Dec. u, 1778; m. Polly Ann Jordan. 

John, b. Alar. 19, i7<So; m. Cyrene Harris. 

Rogers, h. Feb. 24, 1782; m. Elizabet'i Rowc. 

Hannah, h. Oct. 7, 1784; m. Benjamin Rowe. 

George, b. Feb. 6, 1786; d. in 1804. 

Thomas, b. Aug-. 10, 1788; ni. Cliloe Turner; nc issue. 

Sarah, b. May 27, 1790 ; d. unm. 

Polly, b. May 29, 1702; m. Elkanah Irish. 

S.XMUEL DeCoster, son of the'preceding b. Aug. 15, 1776, m. 
Sarah Bacon and settled in Buckfield on the farm owned by his 
grandson, \irgil P. DeCoster, Esq. He d. Sept. 14, 1830. 
Children : 

Henry, h. Dec. 18. 1798; ni. Abigail E. Iri^h. 
Samuel, b. Feb. 24, 1801 ; m. Caroline — . 
Joanna, h. Tune 16, 1803; rn. Joshua Irish. 
James B., b. Oct. 10, 1806; m. Lucy Thompson. 
Ozias, b. Feb. 7, 1809: m. Elizabeth DeCoster. 
Varanes, b. June 16, 1814; m. Louisa Thompson. 
Sarah Ann, b. June 18, 1817; m. .A.ddi.son G. Cole. 

Henkv DeCo.stek, oldest .son of the preceding b. Dec. t8, 
1798, m. Abigail E. Irish. He settled on a farm adjoining that of 



574 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

his father. He was a man of influence and standing in the town, 
and for many years served on the board of selectmen. He d. 
Sept. 26, 1866. His wife d. Feb. 17, 1889, "aged 90 yrs., 9 mos., 
10 days." Children : 

William Henry, b. Aug. 15, 1828; d. Aug. 24, 1837. 
E/isha IV., b. Feb. i, 1830; d. Aug. 26, 1S37. 
Edmund, b. Jan. 14, 1831 ; ni. Marianna Ston-e. 
Samuel, b. Sept. i, 1S32 : d. Aug. 29, 1837. 
Charles, h. Sept. 18, 1834; d. Aug. 23. 1837. 
Elisa A., 1). Jan. 26. 1836; d. Sept. 2, 1837. 
James H., b. Oct. 12, 1837: m. Angeba Shaw. 
.!/(;;• V A., b. Sept. 23, 1839; d. June 30, 1867. 

Bethiah Ellen, b. Nov. 24, 1841 ; m. Hodgdnn. 

Joseph F., b. Nov. 7, 1843; m. Emma H. Morrill. 

Jame.s H. DeCoster, Esq., son of the preceding b. Oct. 12, 
1837, m. Angelia, daughter of Isaac and Joanna (Teague) Shaw. 
He was educated in the district and high schools of the town and 
for several years taught school during the winter. In 1857 he 
began mercantile life as a clerk in the store of Hiram Hines at 
Buckfield village. After his marriage in 1859 he moved to Hart- 
ford where he was in trade for about a year. In the spring of 
1861 with Charles H. Prince, he purchased the hardware stock of 
Lorenzo Atwood in what was then known as the Douglass store, 
where he remained in business for man}^ years. President Abra- 
ham Lincoln appointed jVIr. Prince, postmaster and Mr. DeCoster 
became assistant. The post office was in one corner of the store. 
The firm did a good business for both meinbers were popular with 
all classes. 

At the outbreak of the Rebellion, a Buckfield company was 
raised and organized of which James H. DeCoster was orderly 
sergeant. For some reason the company was disbanded. In 
1865 Mr. DeCoster was appointed postma'^ter, a position he held 
to the entire satisfaction of the patrons of the office till 1877, 
when having sold his interest in the store, he resigned. In 1880 
he was nominated as the republican candidate for representative 
to the legislature and in ordinary times would have been elected. 
He ran about 20 votes in town ahead of the Governor. Soon 
after he moved to Mechanic Falls and engaged in various busi- 
ness pursuits, where he has since resided. He has been protni- 
nent in the affairs of that village, served for 14 years as Trial 
Justice and for a long period was secretary of the Masonic Mu- 




James H. DeCoster 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 577 

Inal Relief Association. He is a leading member of the ^Masonic 
and other secret organizations. In 1899 he was appointed post- 
master at Mechanic Falls, a position he held for many years. 
Chiklren : 

Bcrthci l.cc, 1). ^(ay 16, 1861 : m. E. Adron Gammon: resides at Me- 
chanic Falls. 

Harry Wilson, h. Oct. 26, 1866; m. Jdora M. Perry; resides in Boston. 

James Cat-roll, b. Sept. 30. 186S; m. Marion E. Pray; resides in Boston. 

Percy Slidzc, b. Jilar. 6, 1871: m. Editli \. Hhipcijard ; resides in Lynn, 
Mass. 

\'araxks DeCoster. yotmgest son of Samuel was born on the 
same place where he lived all his life. He was one of the most 
prosperous farmers in town of his time and accumulated a hand- 
some property. He married Louisa Thompson. He died Jan. 
12. 1888. His wife died Feb. 24. 1898. Children: 

Varanes Francisco, b. Nov. ig, 1838; m. ist Ellen Torrey; 2d Emerette 
Campbell ; s. in the West. 

William B.. b. Sept. 2~, 1840, soldier in Civil War; d. at Edwards. 
Ferry. Md., Jan. 2j, 1863. 

Louisa v., b. Dec. 16. 1842; d. Feb. 28. 1840. 

Grorgianna, b. Sept. 21, i8.m: m. Stephen Morrill of Anbnrn. 

Virgil P., b. Apr. 12. 1848; m. Edith B. Tloopcr. 

Virginia, b. Apr. 12, 1848; ni. Barnnm Jones ci Anbnrn. 

Clcora IL, b. Sept. 2, 1855; m. David M. Mildreth of Wasliington, 
D. C. 

^'IRGIL P. DeCoster, son of the preceding b. Apr. 12. 1848, 
m. Edith B. Hooper of Turner. Mr. DeCoster lives on the 
old homestead and like his father is one of Huckfield's most pros- 
perous farmers. He has served as a member of the board of se- 
lectmen and as representative in the legislature of the state, also 
as a member of the State Board of Agriculture. His wife is a 
woman of intellectual ability and has contributed much to the 
press. Both are very prominent members of the grange and also 
of the State Pomological Society. Children : 

Chora M., b. July 8. 1891. 

Edith H., b. Sept. 16, 1803. 

Helen F., b. Nov. 19. 1S95. 

Rogers DeCoster, son of Jacob, sen., b. Feb. 24, 1782, m. 
Elizabeth Rowe. He resided on the old homestead and was the 
leading citizen in his part of the town. He served one term in the 
Legislature. He died about 1862. His wife died June 20, 1877. 
Children : 



578 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Orris, b. Mar. 7, 1806; m. Luke Bicknell; 4 c. (see Bicknell). 

JoJiii. b. Apr. 6. 1809; m. Cyrenia Harris. 

Elbridge G. b. Feb. 12, 181 1; m. Susanna Suirtevant; i c, Kimball. 

Cyrus, b. Nov. 2. 1812; m. Mary Prescott; 4 c, Sarah, James, Ellen 
and Verrin. 

Hannah, b. Apr. 29, 1814; m. John Cushman ; 2 c, Henrietta and John. 

Thomas, b. June 13, 1817; m. Almeda Packard; 6 c, Charles, George, 
Cyrena, Justin, Cora and Dr. John. 

Julia Ann, b. May 6, 1821 ; m. Elbridge D. Whitman. 

Cyrena, b. Dec. 29, 1823 ; m. William Randall ; no issue. 

William, b. Jan. 30, 1826; m. Martha Fuller; 3 c, Willis, Ella and 
Eddie. 

Jacob DeCoster, Jr., b. May 27, 1774, m. Dec. 20, 1801, Susan 
Morse. They settled in Hebron on what was later called the 
Page place. She died in Jan., 1841. He died in July, 1842. 
Children : 

Parnellc, b. Nov. 14, 1802; m. David Bicknell; 2d Orin Irish; 3 c, 2 
by 1st, I by 2d, Simeon, William and Samuel. 

George, b. Oct. 28, 1804; m. Harriet Bicknell; 5 c, Elmira, Parnelle, 
Rebecca, Flora and William K. 

Solomon, h. Jan. 17, 1806; m. Cynthia Dunham. 

Hozvard C, b. Oct. 19, 1808; m. Mary Ann Buck; 9 c. Harriet A., 
Columbia H., Mary A., Jared ?d., Jacob C, \^;i11iam P., Frederick H., 
Sarah B. and Lillian E. 

Jacob, b. July 6, 181 1; m. Salina Record; 6 c, ]\Iary, Sylvira, Susan, 
William H.. Azulea and Malzema. 

Asa, b. Aug. 13, 1813; m. Martha Fullerton ; s. in N. Y. ; 2 c, Horace 
and George. 

Fear, b. Sept. 9, 1818; m. Samuel S. Bicknell, 2d Charles Goss ; i c, 
by ist husband, Adelbert. 

Fearing, b. Oct. 18, 1820; m. Lyla Packard; 2d Joanna Connor; 7 c, 
Harriet, Minnie, Frank, Ellis, Charles, Ellen and Emma. 

Eph;-aini, b. Nov. 20, 1822; m. Lydia Heath. 

Solomon, son of the preceding b, Jan. 17, 1806, m. Cynthia 
Dunham. He finally settled at West Minot, where he died about 
1889. His wife died within a year afterwards. Children : 

Solomon Thurston, b. May 17, 1830, ni. Lucy B. Chase. 
He resided in Buckfield village awhile during the sixties. Is an 
ornamental and carriage painter. The genealogy of the DeCoster 
families was principally contributed by him and he has taken 
great interest in this history. His wife died at Turner where he 
now resides, June 12, 1901. 4 c. Clarence L.. m. Belle Teague 
(2 daughters, Addie and Carrie B.). Charlotte, m. Fred W. 
Bouncy (2 c. Carrie and Willie). Alice S., m. Frank E. Bray 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 579 

(i c. Paul D.), and Lillian M.. m. Albion B. Jones (i c, 
Myra B.). 

Alvarado F., b. Jan. ]!^32; ni. Emma Eearce ; 5 c, Orland, Tmo- 

gene, Emma, Eva and Lorinda. 

Marcena, b. May 18, 1834; m. Edward Bonuey; 7 c, Frank, Rose, Ed- 
ward, Grace, George, Sherman and Edith. 

Rose S., b. 1840; m. Darius F. Pike; 3 0., Henrv, Lizzie F. and 

Elsie G. 

Cynthia P., h. 1849; d. unm. 

James /-., b. 1851; m. Emma Alitchell ; 2 c, Gertrude and 

Harlan. 

DoBLE. 

William Doble (see sketch) settled on the Twenty ]\Iile 

river. He married Sarah . He lived and died on his 

settling- lot. He died after 181 1. Children all hut first four b. 
in Buckfield : 

H'iHiaiJi, Jr., h. Aug. 14, 1775. 

Phineas, b. July 4, 1777; m. ]\Jary . 

Rebecca, b. Aug. 16, 1779. 

Abraham, b. Dec. 22, 1781 ; m. Lucinda Woodbury. 

Sarah, b. Apr. 6, 1784; m. Daniel Pond. 

Lydia, b. July 27, 17S6. 

Aaron, b. Dec. 8, 1788; m. Abigail Hall. 

I^ticy, b. r^Iar. 31, 1792. 

Elijah, b. Nov. 3, 1793 ; m. Hannah Drake. 

Betsey, b. Nov. 3, 1793. 

Solomon, b. May 3, 1796; m. Louisa Rowe. 

Phineas Dqble.. son of the preceding b. J>^dy 4, 1777, ni. 

Mary . Children : 

WiUard, b. Jan. 11, 1801. 
Anna, b. Sept. 3, 1802. 

Abraii.\:m Doble, brother of the preceding b. Dec. 22, 1781, 
m. Lucinda Woodbury. Chikh-en : 
Elvira, b. Oct. 12, 1807. 
Orin, b. Apr. 14, 1810. 
Alden, b. Jan. 26, 1813. 
Harriet, b. Aug. 11, 1814. 

Aaron Doble, brother of the preceding b. Dec. 8, 1788, ni. 
Abigail Hall. Children : 

Miriam Hall, b. Aug. 27, 1810. 
Sally, b. July 2, 181 2. 
John, b. Aug. 24, 1814. 
Mary, b. Dec. 11, 1816. 
Jlcnry Parwns, b. Jan. 25, 1819. 



580 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Drake. 
Joiix Drake of Bridgewater, Mass., b. Aug. 12. 1757. was 
one of the early settlers in the western part of the town. He 
served in the Revolutionary \\'ar. He m. Molly Cole, 1782. 
Lived in B., Hebron and Sumner. He died Feb. 18, 1834. She 
died Feb. 6, 1840. Children recorded on Buckfield records: 

John. Jr., b. Oct. 8, 1783; m. Martha Packarrl 

Deborah, b. Jan. 30, 1786; m. Wm. Berry, Jr. 

Mary, b. Oct. i, 1788. 

Hannah, h. Ang. 8, 1791 ; d. Nov. 2, 1791. 

Ephraim Cole, b. Sept. 17, 1792; m. Nancy Hersey. 

Stephen, b. Apr. 29, 1795; m. Alartha Hix. 

Hannah, b. Xov. 24, 1797; m. EHjah Doblc. 

U'ni. Harloxc, b. Ang. 22, 1801 ; n\. De?ire D. Risbee. 

John Drake, Jr., b. Oct. 8, 1783, m. ^lartha Packard. 
Children : 

Joh)t S., b. Nov. 19, 1809; m. Amanda M. Wood. 

Diana, b. Feb. 18, 181 1. 

Polly, b. Sept. 13, 1812. 

Martha, h. Xov. 15, 1814; d. Apr. 19, 1826. 

H. G. O., h. Nov. 12, 1816. 

GeraJdine, b. Jnne 17, 1819. 

Melissa, b. July 4, 1821. 

Alexander F., b. Feb. 8, 1824. 

Hannah, b. Mar. 14, 1826. 

Ar.iAL Drake of another family moved into the township 
soon after the census was taken in 1790. He purchased a large 
tract of land of the proprietors (about 300 acres), east of the 
East Branch on which he lived to his death. He married Dolly, 
daughter of Jonathan Philbrick. Children : 

Martin, b. Feb. 19, 1794; m. Celia E!isbee. 
Anna, b. Mar. 3, 1796; m. Jonah Hall. 
Dorcas, b. July 26, 1798; m. Amos Atkinson. 
Enoch, b. Aug. 17, 1800; m. Rhoda Hnssey. 
Abial, Jr.. b. Jan. 14, T804 ; m. Nancy Swett. 

]\L\rtin Drake, oldest son of Abial, b. Feb. 19, 1794, m. Celia 
Bisbee in 1823. He lived to a good old age. All of his life had 
been spent on the place where he was born. He was a good cit- 
izen and noted for his great strength. He died Sept. 24. 1874. 
His wife died June 2. 1874. Children: 

Dorcas Ann, b. Ang. 15, 1824. 

Sarah Jane, b. July 18, 1826; m. Charles Dunn. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 581 

Achsa Maria, b. Aug. 19, 1828; m. John M. Damon. 
Cclia v., b. Apr. 20, 1831 ; m. Geo. W. Lon;^-. 
Esther M. J., b. Jan. 27, 1839. 

Enoch Drakk, brother of the preceding, b. Aug. 17, 1800, m. 
Rhoda Hussey. Children : 

Mcrritt Siicll, b. Xov. 22, 1827; Xaiicy, h. June, 1829; Sahriiui. b. Feb. 
1831. 

Farrar. 

The Farrars of Buckfield are descendants of John Farrar. then 
commonly written Farrow who with wife. Frances, and dau. 
]\Iary from Hingham, England, settled in Hingham, Mass.. about 
1635. He died July 7, 1687. She died Jan. 28, 1689. They had 
5 children and two sons, John, baptized June 6, 1639, m. Aug. 14, 
1664: :\Iary, dau. of William Hilliard. She died Sept. 14, 1689. 
He d. Jan. 27, 1716, aged yG. He was a "carpenter." Xathan, 
m. Dec. 5, 1683, Mary, dau. of John and Mary Gardner. She 
died Feb. 27, 1710, aged 55. He died Oct. 18, 171 5. aged 5i. 
They had 5 children, Jonathan, the third, b. June 10, 1689, m. 
Oct. 2/, 1714. Joanna, dau. of Thomas and Joanna (]\Iay) 
Whiton. She died Apr. 11, 1737, aged 46, and he m. 2d Mrs. 
Judith (\\'hiton) White. He died Apr. 14. 175 1, aged 62. Six 
children all by first wife, three of wdiom were sons, Jonathan, b. 
Aug. 26, 1717; David, b. May 19, 1722 and John baptized May 
24, 1724. This David had a son, David, b. in 1750. The name 
of the latter"s wife as given in the History of Hingham was De- 
sire Tower. 

DAvro Farrar. fifth in descent from John Farrar, had seen 
service in the Revolutionary war and settled in Bucktown in 1788. 
He was born about 1750. He m. Judith Stoddard of Scituate. 
He d. in 1810. Children only last four b. in B. : 

Judith. 1>. July i, 1773; m. Thomas Lowc'l. 

David. Jr.. b. ^^ay 20, 1775; m. ist Sarah Chesley; 2cl INIary Gammon. 

Saiiiurl. h. Aug. 8. 1779; m. Rehekali 

Philip, b. Jan. 14, 1781 ; m. 

Tamar, b. Oct. 31. 1784; m. John P.rock, Jr. 

Mehifabic, b. Jan. 30. 1787; m. Nathaniel Mayhevv. 

A'athaii, b. Sept. 16. 1789; m. Susannah Brock. 

Behi, b. Dec. 26, 1791 ; m. Lydia Thayer; s. in Paris. 

Dc.fire, b. Oct. 3, 1796; m. Martin Crockett. 

Jnhu, 1). July 10, 1800; m. ist Polly Brock, 2d Rebecca Cobnrn (?). 



582 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Dea. David Farrar^ son of the preceding, b. May 20, 1775, 
m. 1st Sarah Chesley, 2nd Mary Gammon. He was a very 
worthy man and a deacon of the church for many years. He 
died Nov. 8, 1842. His 2d wife died Apr. 24, 1865 in the 77th 
year of her age. Children by 1st wife: 

David 26., b. Jan. 24, 1802 ; ni. Cynthia Waterman. 
Sarah, b. Jan. 23, 1804; m. Hon. Noali Prince. 

Judith, b. ; m. David Brock. 

Orin, b. Aug. 16, 1807; d. Alay 3. 1871. 
Miriam, b. Apr. 13, 1812; m. C. C. Harlow. 

Children by 2d wife: 

Merritt, b. July 27, 1817; m. .Arabella Bicknell. 
Reuben L., b. Dec. 20, 1819; m. Hananh L. Cresey. 
Sophronia, b. ?\Iar. 14, 1822; m. Winslow Evarjs. 
Byron, b. July 27, 1824; s. and ni. in Arkansas City, Kansas. 
Julia Ann, b. June 16, 1827 ; m. Joseph Car}-. 
Milton, b. May 5, 1829; s. in Westfield, ]Mass- 

Job P., b. Nov. 25, 1831 ; s. in Abington, Mass., and afterwards moved 
to Arkansas City, Kan. 

David Farrar, oldest son of the preceding, b. Jan. 24, 1802, 
m. Cynthia Waterman. He died Sept. 12, 1893. She died Jan. 
2, 1896, aged 91. Children: 

Lavornia, b. Sept. 25, 1825 ; m. Edson Murdock, 2d Dea. Henry Bangs. 
Aug dine O., b. May 8, 1829. 

Sarah Chesley, b. July 30, 1832; m. Fisk. 

Cynthia E., h. June 4, 1836. 

Jason, b. Oct. 30, 1838; m. Clara E. Ricker. 

Clara M., b. Apr. 17, 1840; m. Wyer Greene, Portland. 

Jason Farrar, son of the preceding, b. Oct. 30, 1838, m. 
Clara E. Ricker. He represented his tovv'n and district in the 
Legislature. Held many positions of trust in town and was 
town clerk for many years. He went West and settled in In- 
diana. Children recorded here : 

Jason Mov.tcUe, b. Dec. 26, 1870. 
Marion, b. Aug. 26, 1872. 

AIerritt Farr.vr, son of Dea. David, b. July 2"/, 1817, m. Ara- 
bella Bicknell. He settled in the western part of the town near I 
the old homestead. He has served as town treasurer and select- 
man and took a prominent part in county politics when the Re- 
publican party was organized. His wife d. in Feb., 1900, in her 
75th year. Children : 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 583 

Mary A., h. June i, 1841. 

Cloni L., 1). ^iay — , 1861 ; m. Scott Brigg^. 

Hattic M., 1). Nov. 14, 1868; ni. Isaac Turner. 

Reubp:x L. Farrar, bro. of the preceding, b. Dec. 20, 1819, 
m. Hannah L. Cresey. He d. Mar. 27, 1900. Children : 
Julia C, b. Aug. i, 1851 ; d. Sept. 6, 1852. 
Cynthia R., h. Sept. 20, 1853; ni. Edsil Sniitli. 

Samuel Farrar, son of David, Sr., b. Aug". 8, 1779. m. 
Rebekah — — . He d. Aug. 15, 1865. She d. :\lar. 27, 1865. 
Child : 

Saiiiiii'l, b. Mar. t,. iSoi. 

Philip^ bro. of the preceding, b. Jan. 7, 1781, m. . 

He was the first drover of cattle to the Brighton, Mass., market. 
Jle d. Sept. 24, 1846. Children: 

Judith^ b. Nov. 28, 1804; (\. Nov. 2, 1825. 

America, b. Feb. 22, 1807; ni. Araniinta Dean. 

Ethic, b. Jan. 28, 181 1; ni. Betsey O. Bessey. 

Aratiis, b. Jan. 15, 1813; m. Diantha Spaulding. 

^Uthea IL, b. Jan. 2"/, 1S15; ni. Elbridge R. Rickcr of Hartford. 

Liifcii, h. July 30, 1824 ; m. Lucy Hayford. 

Julia A. C, h. Apr. 23, 1828. 

A^[i:rica Farrar, son of Philip atifc, h. Feb. 22, 1807, m. 
Araminta Dean. He was famous in his ;'ay as a dealer in fast 
liorses, kept a public house for many years and was widely known 
as "Mec" Farrar and delighted to be so called. He d. Dec. 24, 
1864. She d. Mar. 24, 1891. Children: 

Lucius Lorin<i, b. Dec. 0. 1830; m. Mary . 

Aiicood, b. May 13, 1833; m. Clarissa ^Morrill. 

James Jezvrtt, b. Dec. 13, 1834; d. Apr., 1836. 

Melissa, b. Feb. 7, 1837: m. Hiram Dunbam. 

Larkiii ]]■'., b. Jan. 7, 1848; m. Dean. 

Esther A., h. Sept. 20, 1850; m. Rosalvo Crockett. 

Lucius L., son of the preceding, b. Dec. 9, 1830. m. ^lary 

. Children : 

Miih't jr., h. Dec. 10, 1850; Araminta E.. b. June 26, i856. 

Atwood Farrar, bro. of the preceding, 1;. May 13. 1833, m. 
Clarissa ]\forrill. (diildren : 

.-Itz^'Dod America, 1). Afay 5, 1850; Horace E., h. Oct. 20,- i8fio: Lizzie 
B., 1). July 25, 1864; Shirley, h. AJay 15, 1874; Charles /... b. Dec. 11, 1877. 

Fthic h\\RR.\R, son of I'hilip, ante, b., J:ui. 28, 181 1, m. Uetsey 
O. Bessey. Children : 

/f'tnniha! E.lhic. b. AFar. 1 r, 1833; ni. ^^artba ("lilman. 



584 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Miranda, b. Aug. 26, 1835; ni. Cliarles Foster. 
Roana, b. Aug. 6, 1838; m. Simeon Hussey. 
D. Webster, b. Aug. 22, 1840; killed at Bull Run. 
Charles, b. Aug. 5, 1842. 

Ar.\tus P'arrar, bro. of the preceding", b. Jan. 5, 18 13, m. 
Diantha Spaulding'. He d. Xov. 2, 1899. Children : 

Emily R., b. Alay 6, 1835; ni. Horace !\Iorrill ; James Madison, b. Mar. 

28, 1837; Dianlha Jane, b. Mar. 9, 1839; Amanda Maria, h. 1840; 

Ma-y M., b. June 28, 1843, d. Oct. 2, 186 T ; JVm. U'., h. June 17. 1S47 ; 
Eva I., h. Aug. 21, 1851; Ida I., b. Sept. 8. 1853. 

Nathan Farrar, son of David, Sen., b. Sept. 16, 1789, m. 
Susannah Brock. Children: 

Caroline, b. Jan. 2, 1822; Oriscui, 0. Mar. 6, 1S23, d. Oct. 22. 1823; 
Orissa, h. July 23, 1824, 

FoRDE.S. 

Jonah Forbes (see sketch) was a native of Easton, where he 
was born about 1741. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was 
enrolled at the beginning of that contest as one of the }*linjte 
Men. After the war he settled in the eastern part of Bucktown. 
There is no mention of his family on the Buckfield records. He 
was living in 1820 at the age of 79. Probably d. soon after. 
Children : 

Zadoe, b. — : m. Juditb . 

Area. b. about 1782; m. Rebecca Roberts. 

Miriam, b. m. Seth Roberts. 

Snsannah, h. ni. Xatban Hall. 

Arza Forbes, son of the preceding, b. al)out 1782, m. Rebecca 
Roberts. She died Aug. 14, 1854. He died Xov. 24, 1862. 
Children : 

Bethiali. b. June 12, i8it: m. Josiah Keen, ]r. 

Jonah, h. Mar. 21, 18(3; ni. Sylvira Hall. 

Eliab, h. Feb. 3, 1815: ni. .\nn G. Sea\"e\". 

Judith, h. May 6, 1817. 

Richard, b. May 28. 1820; m. Brittania Turr.er. 

Silas, b. June 2^,. 1822: d. Dec. 2, 1852. 

Delphina P., b. Apr. 27. 1824: m. Cbarles T. Hall. 

Xathan, b. Sept. 3, 1826; d. Feb. n. 1853. 

Mekander G., b. Xov. i, 1829; ni. Julia C. Bicknell. 

Jonah Forbes, son of the preceding, b. iNfar. 21, 1813. m. 
Sylvira Hall. He d. Dec. 24, 1896. She d. x\pr. 4, 1852. 
Children : 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 585 

Clinton, b. Dec. 3. 1838: d. in Washington. D. C. Oct. 28, 1862. 
Elizabctli, b. Feb. 28. 1841 : ni. Orlantlo Iri<!i. 
Henry B., b. July 31, 18.15; n.i. Addie T. .\1)!iott. 
5. Ella, h. i)ct.. 1849; ni. William C. P.artlett. 

Richard Forces, son of .\rza, h. May 28, 1820. m. IJrittania 
Turner. He d. Dec. 9, 1858. Clr.klren : 

Frauk M., b. Feb. 3. 1853; Frrdcrick I.., h. \ov. 20, 1857, d. May 12, 
J 858. 

Henrv B. Fordk.s, son of Jonah, b. Jtily 31, 1845, ''•''• Addie 
T. Abb(itt. He lives on the homestead of his father. Chikh-en: 

Mattic A.. 1). Oct, 2},, 1870; ni. Claude E. Hobnes. Harry C. b. July 
3, i8-'2: CUntoii F., b. Nov. 2:\ 1884: Ida />'.. b. Au-, 1891. 

AIf.lvaxder G. Forp.es, son of Arza, b. Nov. i, 1829, m. Jnha 
C. I'.icknell. He died .March 27, 1873. Children: 

Avorluic R., b. Aug. 24. 1855: ni. Walter H. Purkis. 
Rc-i\ Elcan.-ir B., h. Xov. 11, i860; a Universalist minister; s. at Gray,' 
Maine. 



Foster. 

The Fosters of England and America are descended from 
Baldwin 1 of Flanders, called the "Iron Arm," on account of his 
great strength, or as some say oti account of his being constantly 
in armor. He married the Princess Judith, daughter of Charles 
the Bold of France, a grandson of Charlemagne. Baldwin H. 
m. Aethelfryth, dau. of King Alfred the Great. Sir Richard 
Forester was 5th in descent from King Baldwin. While a young 
nicii he came over to England from Normandy with William 
the Conqueror, who had married his sister, Matilda. He was 
then called Forestarius from his occupation as Keeper of the 
k'orest. His spurs were won at the battle of Hastings and he 
was knighted at the age of 16. 

The boosters who settled in lUicktown were of the Dorchester 
branch as it is called. The line is as follows : Rev. Thomas Fos- 
ter and wife, Elizabeth Wimes of Ipswich, England, had three 
.-ons and three daughters. The latter married and settled in luig- 
land. The sons were Richard, Thomas' and William. Richard 
dr.'d and the other two bi'otiiers and Richard's widow and chil- 
dren came to Mass. Sergt. Thomas' born about i^xx"), with wife. 
Elizabeth, settled at Dorchester, afterward.-^ removed to liosttMi 



586 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

where he was "gunner of the castle" and was in King Phihp's In- 
dian war. He died in Billerica, April 20, 1682. Of their six chil- 
dren was Dea. John- Foster, the 2d child, b. Oct. 7, 1642, who 
married Alary Chiilingworth. He died June 13, 1732, at the age 
of 90. She died Sept. 25, 1702. Her father was a man of prom- 
inence and representative to the General Court from INIarshfield. 
Dea. John Foster left 7 living children, 45 grandchildren and 83 
great-grandchildren and had 26 grandchildren die before himself. 
They had 10 children. The 3d was Josialr Foster, b. June 7, 
1669, who married Sarah, daughter Samuel Sherman of Marsh- 
field and settled in Pembroke. He was a farmer but his father 
and grandfather were blacksmiths. He lived to be 88 years old, 
dying in 1757. His wife had died July 30, 1713, and he married 
four years later Ursula Rand of Scituate but left no children by 
her. Josiah Foster had eight children — four boys and four girls. 
Isaac,^ the 5th child, b. Aug. 5, 1705, married in 1732 Frances 
Josselyn of Hanover, a descendant of Sir Thomas Josselyn, 
Knight, of London, the father of Henry Josselyn of Black Point, 
now Scarboro, one of the foremost and ablest men in the early 
government of Sir Ferdinando Gorges of his Province of Afaine. 
Isaac Foster was the administfator of h's father's estate. They 
had 8 children, ]\Iicah\ b. Sept. 22, 1742, m. Hezediah Crocker, a 
descendant of John Howland and several others of the Pilgrims. 
He was a Revolutionary soldier and Minute Man. He died June 
22, 1827, aged 85. She died Aug. 8, 1788, aged 45. Joel", b. 
May 31, 1766, was the oldest child of a large family. He came 
here after Jan. i, 1784, and before 1788. July loth of the latter 
year he married Phebe Buck, daughter of \bijah Buck for whom 
the township was named. She was born Dec. 17, 1766. He was 
the first tanner and innkeeper in the village. He died Feb. 6, 
1816. She d. Nov. 12. 1863. Children: 

Ellen, b. Feb. 4, t/co; d. young. 

Hezediah Crocker, b. Apr. 18, 1791 ; never married ; d. Sept. 23, 1863. 

Rebecca, b. Mar. 9, 1793. 

Micah, b. May 15, 1795; m. ; s. in ea.'^tern part of tbe state. 

.Ihijah, b. May 15, 1795; d. Aug. 7, 1831. 

Joel. b. Apr. 29, 1798; m. ist Martba Lothrop, 2d ^Mercy Davis. 

Riilaii, b. Atig. 29, 1804: m. Polly Ctishnian. 

Phebe, b. Sept. 22, 1806; d. Nov. 15, 1806. 

Jcrnialier, h. Aug. 27, 1807; m. Tristram Warren. 

Grain ille Augustine, b. July 4. 1812. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 587 

]oEL Foster, Jr., m. ]\Iartha Lothrop and settled in Buckfield. 
She died Nov. 27, 1845, "aet. 54 years." He died July 14, 1877. 
Children : 

Phchc, b. July 21, 1822; m. Joshua P.. Whitman. 

Joel, b. July 21, 1822; m. Armiua Whitman; s. in llchrdn. 

Charles, b. May 17, 1829; m. Miranda Farrar; s. in Mo. 

Margaret .'\nii, b. Aug. 28, 1831 ; m. J. J. Fuller; s. in Hebron. 

Abijah, b. Aug. 2%, 1831 ; m. Ro^cana C. Whitman. 

Hczcdiah, b., Alay 20. 1835: m. Henry Cushman. 

]]'arrcn Auiiiistive Clak, b. Feb. 6, 1837; m. Sarah Bicknell; s. in 
Hebron. 

Abijah Foster married Rozana C-. W'liitman and settled in 
Buckfield. She died Oct. 8, 1872. Children: 

Frank Forest Foster^ b. Nov. 25, 1857; m. Laura A. Place; s. in 
Woodstock. 

Fred Fenfon Foster, b. May 10, 1867; m. Lola Leigh Brann; s. in 
Milton PI. 

RoL.\x Foster, son of Joel, married Polly Cushman and set- 
tled in Buckfield. He d. Mar. 2, 18O9. She d. in Sept., 1887. 
Children: 

Ellen, b. Mar. 28, 1830; d. Feb. Ji, 1834. 

Marquis De Lafayette, b. Nov. 15, 1832; 3. in ]\Iass. 

Virgil P., b. July 26, 1835 ; s. in Mass. ; k. on railroad, Dec. 21, 1897. 

Mary Ann, b. Nov. 16, 1837; never married. 

Rolan Augustine, b. .'\pr. 11, 1842; s. in Mass. 

Clarence E. Foster, born in East ^lachias. Feb. 12, 1849, is 
a direct descendant of Reginald^ Foster, a native of Brunton, 
England, who was one of those leaving his native land during 
the reign of King Charles I to escape the tyranny of that mon- 
arch. With wife, Judith, five sons and two daughters, he 
settled at Ipswich, Mass., about 1638. Ilis family was anciently 
connected with those of the same name in the north of England, 
which had won fame in their contests with their Scottish foes 
and are mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in "Marmion" and the 
"Lay of the Last ]\linstrel." The line of descent from Reginald 
is as follows : 

Isaac, b. in England, 1630, m. 1658. Mary Jackson. He had 
14 children by two wives, none by 3d who survived him. 

Benjamin, b. June, 1665. 

Benjamin, b. about 1699. 

Wooden, h. in Maine, m. Frances Scott, was a l)lacksniith l)y 
trade at Scarboro, when he was engaged to go to Madras and 



588 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

assist in building a saw mill. He settled there. He was a 
brother of Col. Benj. Foster who was the commander of the 
forces that seized the first British vessel on the outbreak of hos- 
tilities with the mother countr}-. This altair took place in the 
harbor of ^Nlachias. 

Moses, m. Drusilla \\'est. 

Aaron Moses, m. Elizabeth Comstock. 

Clarence E., married Lelia, daughter of Amos K. and ^lelis- 
sa (Jordan) \\"inslow. He is one of Buckfield's best farmers 
and business men. For several years, he has been in the wood 
and lumber business and has acquired a large property — probably 
the wealthiest man in town. (He died in 1914.) Children: 

Maud A., b. Mar. 6, 1881 ; Mary E., b. May 1, 1^82; Amos C, b. Aug. 
9, 1883, m. Hazel Warren: Lcora, b. June 15, 1886; Stanley £., b. Sept. 
16, 1887. ni- Flsie Cushman : Agnes B., b. June 15, T889; Florence, b. ^Ma}' 
20, 1891. 

Gammox. 

Philip and Joseph Gammon, who were brothers, came from 
England to America about 1750 and settled in the vicinity of 
Portland. They lived at different periods at Cape Elizabeth, 

Scarboro and Gorham. Phihp's wife was Joanna . 

Children: (Imperfect list). 

Philip, m. Sarab Crockett, a Rev. soldier; living in VN'indham in 1790. 

Nathaniel, b. abt. 1753; m. Mary Lowell; s. in Bucktown. 

Jnsepli, b. in Aug., 1755; a Rev. soldier; m. Drusilla Reed; s. in Xor- 
way. 

Ruth, m. in 1781. Tliomas Clay. 

Jonathan, m. Lydia Alillett. 

Benjamin, m. Betty Crockett. 

Betsy, m. Benj. Bodge; s. in Windham. 

Philip and wife, Joanna, deeded land in Gorham in 1801 to 
their daughter, Ruth Clay. Afterwards lived in Windham, said 
to have gone to Raymond with son, Nathaniel. 

X\THANiEL Gammon from Falmouth or vicinity, b. about 
1753, m. ]\Iary Lowell of Falmouth. She was b. in 1758. He 
served 3 years in the War for Indepen'lence on the qttota of 
Windham. He was one of the original 47 permanent settlers and 
took up his lot in what was known in after years as the Lowell 
neighborhood. He d. in Sept., 1830. Children: 

Anna, b. Feb. 26, 177S. 

Xafhaniel, Jr.. b. May 29, 1782; m. Clarissa Br} ant. 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 589 

William, h. Fel). 13, 178^; m. Sophia IJrvant 
Mary, b. Xov. 29, 1787; m. Dea. David Far*-;'.'/, Jr. 
Stephen, h. July 19, 1790; s. in Peru. 
Margery, b. July 19, T794; in. Warren Bessey. 
JonatJian. b. Apr. 22. 1797; m. Alargaret Tiiompson. 

JoxATiJAX CiAMMOx. SOU of the preceding', b. Apr. 22, 1797, 
m. Margaret lliompson, b. 1798. He hatl the homestead on 
which they lived to their death. It was a very respectable and 
worthy family — none more so in town. He died May 2, 1879. 
She died in 1875. Children: 

James E., b. Sept., 1828; m. Denison ; s. in Dodge City. Kansas. 

Mary F., b. Oct.. 1832; m. Carlton Gardner. 

Margaret J ., b. Aug.. 1841 ; m. S. F. Balconi : s. in Cal. Before mar- 
riage slie was a successful school teacher. 

Joseph Gammon, brother of the first Pliilip. was constable 
and tax collector in Gorham for several years. Children : 

Samuel, m. in 1776, Susanna Perkins; s. in Hartford; Rev. soldier. 

David, m. in 1777, Mary Doane; s. in Buckheld ; a Rev. soldier. 

Daniel, m. in 1781, ]\Iary Blanchard, 2d Polly Elder. 

Joshua, m. in 1787, Elizabeth Millett. 

Joseph, m. in 1795; Polly Patrick. 

Christiana m. in 1706, Robert Knight, Otisfrdd. 

Willaim, m. in 1798, Molly Hasty; s. in Stoneham. 

John, ni. in 1797, Sarah Cook; s. in Casco. 

Mary, m. in 1801, John Brown ; s. in Turner. 

Abigail, d. in Buckfield. 

David Gammon, 3d son of above, m. Mary Doane. Children: 
Enniee, b. July 15, 1780; Joseph, b. Jan. 3. 1784; Thomas, b. Jan. 2J, 
1786; Polly, b. June 22, 17S8; Le^'i, h. Aug. i. 1791; Robinson, b. Feb. 10, 
1794; Deborah, h. Apr. 10, 1797; Charity, b. Apr. 10, 1800. 

Gardner. 

The Gardners of P.uckfield are descendants of John' Gardner, 
who came unmarried from England to Boston, Mass., about 1650 

and finally settled at Hing-ham. He married his wife, INIary • 

at Boston, Apr. 10, 165 1. He died Nov. 24, 1668, and she re- 
married. They had 10 children. John, the oldest, baptized 
July 17, 1652, m. Feb., 1683. Mary, dau. of Samuel and Mary 
(Farrar) Stowell. She died Oct. 22, 1714, aged 61. He died 
Dec. 16, 1700, aged 48. They had 6 children, John-', the oldest, 

b. Jan. 4, 1684, m. Rebecca . He died Apr. 20, 1742, aged 

58. She survived him and m. 2d, Nov. ii, 1743, Samuel Whiton. 



590 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

They had 9 children. The first son and fourth child, John^, b. 
Feb. 5. 1720, m. Dec. 8, 1742, Joanna, dan. of Jonathan and 
Joanna (Whiton) Farrar. She was baptized June 19, 1720. He 
resided at "Liberty Plains," South Hingham, where his ancestors 
had lived. He died Apr. 19, 1802, aged 82. The date of her 
death is not given. They had 8 children. Their first son and 
5th child was John, b. Nov. 30, 1751. Luther, the 6th child, b. 
Sept. 29, 1754, m. Apr. 2, 1788, Jane Mayo of Scituate. Jona- 
than^ was the 8th child and was born in Hingham, Jan. 29, 1764. 
He was a Revolutionary soldier and with his brother, Liither, 
also a Patriot of the War for Independence, settled in 
Buckfield before 1800. When the census for that year was taken 
the former had a family of eight persons and the latter two. It 
is said that Luther had no children and none are recorded on our 
records. 

Jonathan^, m. Sarah Gardner, b. Aug. 26, 1767. Her line of 
descent fnom John^ was Stephen 2-3-4. He died in 1836. She 
survived him some ten years. Children : 

Jonathan, Jr., h. Feb. 27, i/Qo; d. about 1810. 

Ansel, b. Sept. 5. 1791 ; s. in Dixmont, ATe. ; lived to be over 90. 

Sarah, b. Tune 7, 1703; m. -, — Allen; s. in P'astern Maine. 

Ira, b. Feb. 19, 1795; m. Naomi Gray. 

Joanna, b. Dec. 28. 1797: m. and s. in Eastern Maine. 

Ilnldah, b. ; m. Jobn Brown of Canton. 

Jinic, b. : m. Lnnt ; s. in Eastern Maine. 

John, b. 1812; m. and s. in Eastern Maine.; d. about 90 years old. 

Ira Gardner, b. Feb. 19. i795, m- Naomi Gray of Paris, b. 
Oct. 21, 1798. He settled on a farm west of the village, which 
was the settling lot of Thomas Allen. He d. Sept. 3, 1870. 
Children : 

Columbia, b. Sept. 28, 1820; d. June t6. 1856. 

Hannibal, b. \pr. 26, 1822; d. Mar. lo, 1826. 

Briftania,, b. Nov. 2, 1823; m. Samuel Tbomes. 

Oscar Fitc-AHan, h. Sept. 14, 1825; m. Jennrtte T. Thomes. 

Carlton, b ]\Tar. 3, 1828: m. Mary F. Gammon. 

Julius yielville, b. Sept. 7, 1831 ; d. in 1869. His wife d. .A.ug. 25, 1865 
and he m. 2d Mrs. Julia Ripley. 

Oscar F. Gardner, son of the preceding, b. Sept. 14, 1825, 
m. Jennette T. Thomes. He served in the navy during the Mex- 
ican War, was a prominent man in town affairs and held the prin- 
cipal town offices for several years, was town clerk at the time ot 
his death. Apr. 24, 1875. His widow died in Norway Oct. 16, 
1902. Children : 



I 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 59I 

Eugene Lee, b. June 25. 1856; ni. Lizzie Jones. 

Jennie Columbia, Apr. 25, 1858; m. ist Willirxin Gregg:. 2(1 Charles 
Young. Children: By ist husliand, 1 1 or tense Gardner, b. Jan. 5, 1879; 
by 2(1 hushand, Charlotte J ., b. July 2J, 1887. 

Gertrude O., b. May 18. 1875. 

Eugene L. Gardner^ son of the preceding', b. June 25, 1856, 
ni. Lizzie Jones. Children: 

Guy, b. • -; Iva May, b. ; Annie, h. Feb. 27, 1888; Mary C, 

b. Nov. 17, 1899. 

Carlton Gardner, Esq., son of Ira, b. Mar. 3, 1828, m. Mary 
F. Gammon. He was prominent in town and county affairs and 
a member of the board of selectmen and asircssors for many years, 
also collector of taxes, town treasurer and member of the school 
board. The town affairs were always ably and judiciously man- 
aged while in his hands. AFr. ( iardner served as deputy sheriff 
and jailer. He was a man of ability, sound judgment and of strict 
integrity and was respected by all who knew him. He died after 
1900. Children by adoption : 

Mary, b. Jan., 1870; m. Dr. A. W. Hobart of Chicago. 

John C, b. July, 1873 ; d. Aug.. 1880. 

Hall. 

Dea. John Hall, b. in 1617, m. Elizabeth Layton of Dover, 
X. H. Of their children was Hatevil. who m. Mercy Cromwell. 
One of their sons was Hatevil, Jr., b. in Dover, X. H., in 1709. 
He m. Sarah Furbish of Kittery, Apr. i, 1733. He was a chair 
maker or turner and settled in Dover. Aboul 1753 they removed 
to Falmouth, Me., where he became a large land holder there and 
in \\'indham adjoining, some of which was purchased "in the 
15th year of his majesty's reign." .\ member of the Society of 
Friends or Quakers, he was accustomed to sjieak at their meet- 
ings. He was of medium size and both !ic and his worthy wife 
were open-hearted, generous and hospitable. Fie died Xov. 28, 
J 797, leaving 475 descendants, but not till he had visited on 
horseback his relatives in X. H., to bid them a final farewell, after 
recovering from what his friends and relatives feared would be 
a fatal illness which he said he should li\e to do. His wife 
died ?\Iar. 2, 1790. Children: 

Doothy, h. Aug. 23, 17,33; m. George Leighton. 

Daniel, b. Mar. 24. 1735; m. Lorana Winslow. 



592 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Hat^vU, b. Mar. 24, 1736; m. ist Ruth Winslow, 2d Ann Jenkins. 
Mercy, b. Oct. 6, 1738; m. Joseph Leighton. 
Abigail, b. Feb. 12, 1740; m. Isaac Allen. 
Ehenczci-, b. July 20, 1741 ; m. Hannah Anderson. 
William, b. Dec. 6, 1742; m. ist Betsey Cox, 2d Elizabetli Wilson. 
John, b. June 19, 1744; m. Grace Sprague. 

Jcdediaii, b. Jan. 21, 1748; m. ist Hannah Hussey, 2d Elizabeth 
Cloiigh. 

Andrcz<.', b. Sept. 15. 1750; ni. Jane Merrill. 

Xicholas, b. Mar. 8, 1753; m. 1st Experience Stone, 2d Emma Sawyer. 

Paul, b. Dec. 15 ,1755; m. 1st Sarah Xeal, 2d Keziah Xeal. 

Silas, b. , 1758: ;n. ist Hannah Gould, 2d Hannah Xeal. 

Damel Hall, oldest son of the preceding, b. Alar. 24, 1735, 
m. Lorana W'inslow. At the age of 21 with his ax and snow- 
shoes, he left his father's home in Dover, X. H., and went by 
spotted trees to f'ahnouth to take up a settler's lot. Having 
selected it and built a log house he rettirned to Dover. He gave 
such a favorable accoinit of the place where he proposed to make 
li's future home, that his father and mother and the whole family 
moved into the wilderness and selected some of the best land in 
the three townships of Falmouth, Gorham and Windham. They 
had five sons and four daughters. All but one son lived to grow 
up and have families. 

Hatevil Hall, bro. of the preceding, b. Mar. 24, 1736, m. 
Ruth Winslow. They s. in W^indham, afterwards in Buckfield 
and thence to Brooks, ]\Ie., where he died ]\Iay 10, 1804. His 
wife d. June 11, 179S and he m. 2d .Ann Jenkins. He could eas- 
ily jump on a rope held as high as two men could raise it. He 
served 7 years in the Revolutionary War and did duty every day 
of service. Children : 

Job, h. about 1754; m. ist Mary Tripp, 2d Xancv Murray. 

Ruth, b. about 1756; m. ist John Briggs, 2d Xath'l Smith. 

Sarah, h. Aug. 24, 1758; m. Robert Gatchel!. 

Hezckiah, b. about 1760; m. and had a large family; s. in Kentucky. 

Enoch, b. Xov. 10, 1763; m. ]\liriam Furbish. 

Submit, b. Oct. 15, 1766; m. Daniel P. Elliott. 

John, b. about 1768 ; d. young. 

Hatevil, b. about 1770; m. in Turner in 17C2, Judith Alorgan. 

Abigail, b. ^lar. 27, 1772; m. Daniel Campbell. 

Nathan, b. in 1774; m. Susanna Forbes; s. in Bucktield. 

Dorcas, h. June 23, 1776; m. Israel Herrick. 

Children by the second wife: 

Margaret, b. ; m. Joseph Roberts. 

Shadrack, b. Feb. 4, 1779 \ m. Sarah Roberts; s. in Brooks, ^te. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 593 

Enoch Hall (see sketch), b. Nov. lo, 1763. m. Miriam Fur- 
bish. He died Dec. 10. 1835. She died a few years later than 
her husband in Liverniore. ^Fe., at the rcsi-.ler.ce oi her slaughter, 
]Mrs. Abigail Doble. Children: 

Dolly, b. Feb. 15, 1786; d. in 1798. 

Ruth, b. Feb. 17, 1788; m. HoUingsworth Hines; s. in Hartford. 

Abigail, h. Dec. 3, 1790; n;. Aaron Doble. 

Andretv, b. Jan. 9, 1792: ni. ist Betsey Packard, 2d Martha Bicknell. 

John, b. Nov. 14, 1795 ■ m. Harriet Gurncy. 

IVinshw, h. .Time 19. 1798; m. Ruth Howland ; s. in Hartford. 

Dolly, b. Aug. 24. 1801 ; m. Daniel Brown. 

Zilpha, b. June 8, 1804; m. Simon Brown. 

Hiram, b. Sept. 29. 1806; m. Alary A. Thompson. 

\\'ixsLow Hall, Esq., son of the preceding, b. June 19, 1798, 
m. in 1824, Ruth Howland. He settled in Hartford where he en- 
gaged in trade. He also owned mills and a farm. He held all of 
the principal town othces. was postmaster and representative to 
the legislature. In 1843 he moved to Presque Isle, Aroostook 
County. Children : 

Joseph Blake, b. Sept. 3. 1825; m. ist Franc:- K. Xewhall, 2d Luciuda 
1£. Todd. 

Michael H., 1). Mar. 12, 1827. 

Marcella M., b. Dec. 3, 1828; m. Joseph W. Hines. 

Julia A., b. Sept. 25, 1831. 

Edivard IV.. h. Alar. 7, 1833- 

Griniill C. h. June 12, 1835 ; m. Martha E. Prntt ; s. in Aroostook Co. 

Ruth A., b. July 30, 1837; m. Nathaniel Bartlett ; s. in Aroostook Co. 

Sarah H., b. Mar. 24. 1840; m. Wm. H. Rri-.ckliff; s. in Aroostook Co. 

Mary J., b. June 4. i8_j2 ; m. Sam'l W. Straiten; s. in Aroostook Co. 

Hon. Jo.><ep!I Blake Hall, son of the preceding, b. Sept. 3, 
1825, m. in 1847 at Sangerville, Ale., PVances K. Xewhall. He 
settled first in Aroostook County but finally moved to Portland 
where for many years he was editor of the Portland Monitor. 
Ide was secertary of the ]\Iaine Senate and Secretary of State. 
His wife dying shortly after they were married, in 1850, he mar- 
ried Lucinda E. Todd by whom he had six children. The oldest, 
Alfred Winslow, b. Aug. 6, 1851, m. Eva I. Gould. He is a 
printer and resides at Portland. 

Xathax Hall, brother of Enoch Hall, ante, b. in Windham, 
Me., in 1774, m. Susan Forbes. He settled in the eastern part of 
Buckfield on a farm adjoining that of Enoch. He was a re- 
markably fleshy man and for some years before his death, Jidy 



594 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

22, 1835, was nearly helpless from this cause. His wife d. Nov. 
5, 1857. Children: 

Submit, b. Dec. 17. 1795; m. William Irish. 

Jonah, b. abt. 1797; m. Ann Drake. 

Nicholas, b. Feb. 22. 1799; m. Huldah Taylor. 

Cynis, b. Dec. 26, iSoo; m. Anna Dorr. 

Miriam, b. ; m. George Roberts. 

Jane, b. Feb. 15, 1807; m. Levi M. Dorr. 

Elvira, b. Feb. 15. 1807; m. John M. Gallison. 

Leonard, b. ; m. Laura Keene. 

Tryphotia, b. ; m. Chandler DeC'T^stcr. 

Charles, b. ■ ; m. Delphina Forbes. 

Shadrack Hall, brother of the preceding, b. Feb. 4, 1779, 

m. Sarah Roberts, b. Jan. 17, 1781. They settled first in IJuck- 

field but removed to Brooks, Me., in 1802, where he died Feb. 4, 

1832. She died Dec. 26, i860. Children; 

Hatez'il, b. 1804; m. Charity Lanphis. 

Ann S., b. Sept. 12, 1806; m. Francis Allen. 

Mary C, b. Jtine 19, 1809; m. Paul H. Hall. 

William P., b. 181 1; m. Olive Whitne3\ 

Elisa, b. Feb. 15, 1812; m. Robert Mitchell. 

Arthur, b. 1813; m. Martha Cilley. 

Ruth, b. July 10, 1814; d. Sept. 14, 1816. 
Nathan, b. Apr. 14, 1816; d. Dec. 14, 1868. 
Abigail, b. June 17. 1819; m. Samuel L. Hobbs. 
Enoch, b. Jan. 4. 1824; d. June 10, 1824. 
Miriam, b. 1828; m. Humphrey Small. 

Andrew Hall, oldest son of Enoch, b. June 9, 1792, m. 
Betsey Packard of Livermore. He died in Peru, ]\Iar. 30, 1871. 
Children : 

Sylvia, b. Juno 3, 1820; m. Jonah Fobes. 

Miriam, b. Aug. Ti, 1822; m. Daniel W. Fobes. 

Andrezv Hobson, b. Nov. 13, 1824; m. Martha P. Bicknell (?). 

Lucy A., h. May 10. 1827; m. Aurelius V. Cole. 

John Hall, brother of the preceding-, b. Nov. 14, T795, m. 
Harriet Gurney. Children : 

Bainbridge, b. Aug. 6, 1823, d. Oct. 6, 18^4; Bainbridgc, b. Dec. 14, 
1824. 

HiRAM Hall, brother of the preceding, b. Sept. 29, 1806, m. 
Mary A. Thompson. He lived on the farm where he was born 
till his death. Children: 

Chora Elmore, b. July 22, 1832, m. George A. Nourse, Camliridge, 
Mass.; Francilla J'alencia. b. Sept. 17. 1834: Charlotte Thompson, b. Nov. 
29, 1836; William Hcn-y., b. July 8, 1841. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 595 

XoAH Hall^ "mariner" with his wife, Mary Hall, settled in 
the western part of the town in January, 1813. He was born in 
Falmouth. Me., Apr. 14, 1780 and was the son of Xicholas and 
Experience (Stone) Hall. When he becauie of age, he went to 
sea and made several voyages to the West Indies and various 
ports of the United States. On one of these voyages he was im- 
pressed into the British navy. His certificate of citizenship, is- 
sued by our custom house officials by authority of the govern- 
ment, to protect him, he concealed in his wig till he should have 
the opportunity to reach any of the United States officials, in 
foreign ports. He knew if he showed his certificate it would be 
disregarded or destroyed. Such acts as this led to the war of 
1812 with Great Britain. For the three years and a half that he 
was in the British service, though his war vessel had entered 
many European ports and had often been engaged with the forces 
of the Spanish, French and Dutch, lie and others similarly situ- 
ated were not allowed to go ashore. Finally an English mess 
mate at Liverpool, who was in the habit of rowing the captain 
ashore, took his certificate to the American consul who procured 
his discharge in December, 1806. The documents in the case 
are still preserved by his descendants as precious heirlooms. He 
made his way back home, where he was joyfully received, having 
long been given up as dead. After this he made many voyages 
as first mate to the West Indies and Europe. When the war of 
181 2 broke out he was on a voyage to Rotterdam, Holland, but 
his vessel reached home in safety. He decided to quit a sea- 
faring life and settled down on a farm and came to Buckfield 
where he made his home to his death, Jan. 24, 1871, in the 91st 
year of his age. His wife died January 9, 1864. Children: 

Eunice, b. Nov. 5, 1813; d. iniin. 

Jane M., b. May 17, 1815; m. Neheniiah Douglass. 

Polly, b. Mar. i, 1817; m. Joel Hall; ?. in Peru. 

Experience, b. July 25, 1818; m. Reuben Gurney. 

Cordelia, b. Dec. 30, 1819; m. Levi Cushman. 

Andrezv J., b. Sent. 5. 1825 ; m. Alary Hooper. 

Andrew J. Hall, son of the preceding, m. Mary Hooper. 
They lived on the old homestead. Children : 
Mary A., b. Jan. 13, 1852 ; m. William L. Harlow. 
Georgianna, b. Mar. 17, 1854; m. Allison H. Ellwood. 
Arthur S., b. May 26, 1864; m. Alice King. 
Mattie G., b. Oct. 27, 1866; ni. Fred Hardy. 
Harry L., b. Aug. 23, 1868; m. Edith Stearns. 



596 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Hammoxd. 

Capt. Benjamin Hamjiond was the 13th settler in Xew 
Gloucester. He and his wife, Sarah ( Cragie ) with other settlers 
made the "Block House" their home during a part of the Indian 
hostilities. When they were nearly over, he built a log house on 
the top of Harris Hill in which the family livd for several years. 
In the War of the Revolution. lie rose to the rank of Captain. 
He died at Ticonderoga from cHsease contracted in the service. 
Captain Hammond had been a famous Indian scout and a mighty 
hunter. The widow died in her 97th year. Children : 

Benjamin, Jr., b. July 13. 1760; m. Rebecca Smiih ; s. in Paris. 

Sarah, h. 1763; m. Nicholas Chesley ; s. ii; Paris. 

Susan, b. 1765; m. Lemuel Jackson, Jr.; s. in Paris. 

IJamiah, b. 1767; m. Jacob Parsons; s. in Xorway. 

Bcla, b. 1769: s. in Foxcroft. 

Joseph, b. Xov. 27, 1771 ; ni. Lydia Parsons: s. in Paris. 

Polly, b. 1773 : m. Cotton ; s. in Xew Gloucester. 

Joseph Hammond, son of the preceding", b. Xov. 2"/, ij/i, m. 
Lydia Parsons of X^orway, b. Oct. 28, 1777. She was the dau. of 
\\'illiam and Sarah (Rust) Parsons. In their old age they came 
to live with their son, William P. Hammond. Thev had 16 chil- 
dren, none of whom are recorded on our recortls. 

Joseph, the ist son and 4th child, b. Sept. jg, 1802: m. Lydia Cush- 
man and s. in Lincoln. 

Pelcg Benson, 2d son, b. Jan. 6, 1808; ni. Enierline Irish; s. in Hebron 
and Paris. 

U'illiaiu Parsons. 3d son, b. Sept. 27, 1809: m. Lucy Whittemore ; s. 
in Buckfield. 

Henry Rust, 4th son. b. Sept. 17, 1813; d. Feb. 3, 1816. 

John Riist, 5th son, b. May 18, 1822; m. Jcnnette A. Cnshnian ; s. in 
Patten. 

George fF., 6lh and youngest son, b. Xov. 14. 1826; m. Emily C. 
Thayer; s. in Paris. 

The 7th daughter, Lydia J., b. July 5, 1815; m. Bradford ^lorse ; s. in 
Rucktield. 

William P. Hammond, son of Joseph, b. Sept. 27, 1809, m. 
Lucy Whittemore of Paris. They settled in Buckfield where he 
died Dec. 9, 1890. Children: 

fio.rana, b. Apr. i. 1832; m. Alfred Mylod ; s. in Dedham, Mass. 

Arabella, b. 1834; m. Gilbert Evans. 

Eli::a Ann. b. — ■ — 183S: m. Harrison Farrar. 

Edith P., b. 1841 ; m. Homer Record ; ?. in Turner. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFFELD 



597 




Old Harlow House at Plymouth 

Gideon ]]'., h. i8-W; m- Ellen M. Thayer. 

Mary E., h. July 13, 1854; d. in infancy. 

GiDEox W. Hammond, son of the preceding, b. in 1844. m. 
Ellen M. Thayer. Children: 

Angic P., b. Dec. 15. 1864; Arabella, h. May 5. iS/i- 



Hari.ow. 

William Harlow (see tradit'onal histor} ) was the sixtli in 

descent from William\ who came to this country and settled in 

the old Colony at Plymouth where he m. in 1649, Rebecca lUirt- 

lett. His house was constructed from the timbers of the t)ld I^^ort 

en lUirial Hill. The line of descent 's William. \Mlliam, Roliert. 

Isaac. William, William. The latter, our tirst settler by that 

name, m. Susanna, dan. of Thomas Harlow. He was a man of 

worth an 1 greatl}' respected for his sterling f|ualities. 1 le died 

in fBoo by the fall of a tree. She died in .Sangerville in 1831. 

Children : 

Nathaniel, b. Apr. 20. 1781 : ni. PciUy Thayer. 

]Villia)n, b. 1782; killed by a fallin.^ tree. 

Ivory, b. Apr. 28, 1784; m. Rebecca Manwell; s. in Brewer. 



598 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Jeruslia, b. June 22, 1786; m. Fuller Dyke; s. in Canton. 
Re7J. Ephralm, b. Nov. 21, 1788; m. Laodicia Bessey. 
Susanna, b. Mar. 19, 1791; m. Abiatha Austin; s. in Byron. 
William, b. Mar. 19, 1793; m. Sarah Billings; ?. in Bridgton. 

Isaac, b. Apr. 10, 1795; m. Gray; d. in Phillips. 

Elisabeth, b. Apr. 23, 1797; m. Levi Gray; s. in Sangerville. 
Dnisilla, b. Mar. 31, 1800; d. young. 

Nathaniel Harlow^ oldest son of the preceding, b. Apr. 20, 
1781, m. I St Polly Thayer of Randolph, Mass. He was a man 
of note in his part of the town, was a trader, postmaster and Jus- 
tice of the Peace, ist wife d. Jan. i, 1842 and he m. 2d ]Mrs. 
Lucy (Witt) Turner. He died in Buckfield past 75 years of age. 
Children : 

Elvira, h. Sept. 26, 1804; d. Dec. 15, ]8io. 

Irene, b. Oct. 30, 1808; m. Sxlvanus B. Faunce. 

Isaac, b. Mar. 31, 1812; m. Elizabeth IMaxim; s. in Boston. 

Hannah, b. Oct. 2, 1814; m. Josiah Bailey. 

Susanna, b. Jan. 7, 1818; m. Benj. Maxim. 

Polly, b. Sept. 25, 1821 : m. Deering Mayhew. 

Louisa, h. Aug. 26, 1824 ; d. June 30, 1847. 

NatJianiel, Jr., b. Aug. 31, 1827; m. Harriet E. Bonne3% 

Jairus, b. Feb. 13, 1830 ; m. Julia L. Turner ; s. in Boston. 

Xathantel Harlow, Jr., son of the preceding, b. Aug. 31, 
1827, m. Harriet E. Bonney. He was a soldier in the Civil War. 
He d. Xov. 14, 1884. Children : 

Cliarles A., h. Apr. 7, 1852; d. young. 

Frederick A., b. July 31, 1855. 

Rev. Ephraim Harlow (see church history), son of William, 
b. Nov. 21, 1788, m. Laodicia Bessey of Paris. He died Apr. 8, 
1862. She died Dec. 2, 1874. Children: 

C. Columbus, b. ; m. Miriam P'arrar; d. June 9, 1887. 

Lydia, b. ; m. Col. A. D. White. 

Marcelle, b. ■ ; m. Orin Farrar. 

Laodicia, b. ; d. unm. Apr. 5, 1880. 

Sarah, b. ; m. Gilbert Barrett. 

Samuel, b. ; m. ist Boadicia Farrar, 2d Wheeler, 3d Elvira 

Damon. 

Belinda, h. ; m. Holmes Austin. 

William L. Harlow, son of Isaac, ante, b. in Boston, INIar. 
5, 1849, m- 1873, Alary A. Hall. Children : 

Flora A., b. Sept. 5, 1875; m- ii^t Alphon-'o Whitman, 2d Otis F. 
Rawson. 

Daisy M., b. Xov. 4, 1876; m. Edson G. Mer-ill. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 599 



Maud E., h. Apr. 8. 1878; w.. Edwin L. rhinne}'. 

Percy JV., b. .\iig. 28, 1880. 

Fannie G.. b. ^lay 9, 1883. 

Harry A., b. Aug. 2Q, 1884. 

Leon I., b. Jan. 6. 1886. 

Earle A., h. Apr. 6, 1887; d. young. 

Alice B., b. Fob. 14, 1889. 



Hathaway, 



Ephraim Hathaway, son of Capt. Ephraim of Dighton, 
Mass., was the first settler of this name in the township. Both 
father and son were soldiers in the War for American Inde- 
pendence. The son seved in his father's company. 2nd Bristol 
County Regiment. The son was of the guards which had in 
charge many of the soldiers of Gen. Burgoyne after the sur- 
render at Saratoga. He m. Jemima — . He died Feb. 15, 1836, 
and is buried on the Capt. Benj. Maxim farm. Children: 

Richard, b. Sept. 29, 17S4; n:. Olive rannce. 

Sahra, b. Jan. 25, 1786; m. John Farris. 

Ehhraim. b. Mar. 2T, 1788; m. Hannah Morey. 

Hiram, h. Nov. i j,. 1789; m. Hannah ITuzzey. 

Freeman, b. Mar. 27, 1704; m. Dorcas Philbrick; s. in ]\Iinot. 

Richard Hathaway, son of the preceding, b. Sept. 29, 1784, 
m. Olive Faunce. Children : 

Uanua]:. b. Apr. 3. 1815; Freeman, b. July 30, 1817, m. Philbrick; 

Granz'iUc Chandler, b. May 10, 1S19; Ephraim, b. May 23, 1827; Phebe 
Lcavitt, b. Sept. 20, ]829: Addison, b. Sept. 17, 1831. 

Hiram, brother of the preceding, b. Nov. 14, 1789, m. Han- 
nah Hussey. She died Sept. 12, 1844. Children : 

Fliram, Jr., b. Nov. 8, 181S; Syh'anus, b. Sept. 8, 1822, s. in Gardiner; 
Sarah Jemima, b. Sept. 25, 1824; Chloe A., b. Jan. 9, 1827; Calvin Morey, 
b. Oct. 27. 1828; Eliza Bennett, b. May 2, 1832, d. May 5, 1843; William 
T., b. Feb. 20, 1834; James, 1). June 28, 1836, d. Any". 26, 1838. 

Hrald. 

Bknj.vmin He.\ld^ the first of the name in this section was a 
Revolutionary soldier. He came from Carlisle, ^lass., to Sum- 
ner, then Butterfield PL. iirob. in 1783. He was one of those 
who settled there before Jan. i, 1784 and was given lOO acres of 
land l)y the Commonwealth. He was also one of the proprietors. 



600 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

He was born June 2^. 1764. He m. Rebekah Spaulding of B. 
He died Oct. 12, 1841. She died June 10, 1858 in her 93d year. 
Children : 

Eenjamm, Jr., b. Sept. i.l, 1786; m. Achsali Hall. 
Sitsannah, h. Jan. 29, 1788; ni. Joshua Carpenter. 
Israel^ b. Jan. 22, 1793; n^ Jane Standish. 
Charlotlc. h. Mar. 10. 1795: d. May S. 1801. 
Hiram, b. July 19. 1797; ni. Sophronia Hersey. 
Harriet, h. Jan. 14, t8oo : m. Reuben Carpenter. 
IVashiiigfoii, b. July 23. 1802; m. Eliza A. Allen. 
Joseph JJ\, b. Sept. 28, 1804; d. young. 
Jefferson, h. Xov. t6, 1805 : ni. Jane Hersey. 
Charlotte, b. Feb. 2,3, 1808; m. Cliarles A. Buck. 
Columbus, b. July 21. 1810; m. Xancy \V. Buck. 

Col. \\'.\siiixi".rox Hkalu, son of tlie preceding, b. in Sum- 
ner. July 2^, 1802, m. Eliza A. Allen, b. Oct, 19. 1803. His fa- 
ther having purchased of Domin'cus Record and his mother the 
water privilege and mills above the bridge in Pjuckfield village in 
April, 1826, he bought the same six years after and enlarged and 
rebuilt. In Sept., 1836, he sold to Addison (;. Cole, and shortly 
after settled at Xorth lUickfield where he owned the mills there 
and did lousiness for many years. The place in our boyhood days 
was called "Heald's !\Iills.'" kor many years he was the leading 
citizen of his secticMi of the town and he rose in the militia to the 
rank of Lieut. Colonel. He died ^^ar. 22, 1876. His wife died 
July 6. 1893. Children : 

Betsey JJ'., b. Aug. 28. 1S25 ; m. Deplura H. Bisbee. 

Rebekah Spaulding, b. July 23, 1827: m. Charlc? H. Pond. 

Geo. IVashington, h. Xov. 20, 1820; m. Eveline Hemenway. 

Joshua C, h. Mar. 24, 183 1 ; m. Olynthia Swallow. 

Caroline D., b. May t8, 1834; ni. Erastus X. Pendleton. 

E!i:::a Jane, b. Xov. 13, 1837; m. Clinton Howe. 

William, b. Jan. 31, 1841 ; in. Elva E. Lovett. 

Benj. Franklin, b. Sept. [3, 1843: m. Rosilla }iIonk. 

Encs D.. b. July 7. 1845; m. i-t Ella iMilchcll, 2d Jane Swallow. 

Joshua C. Heald. son of the preceding, b. Mar. 24, 1831, m. 
Olynthia Sw'allow. They reside at Xortli lUicktield. Children: 
Fred E., b. July 25, T855; m. I'lorcnce Mc>nk. 
Clinton Szvalloz^', b. June 10, 1858; d. Xov. 19. 1862. 
Anna R.. b. May 18, 1861 ; m. Corey Bonney. 
Preston C. b. Dec. 19, 1864. 
Harry 1/., b. Dec. 14, 1870; m Alice G. Cary. 
/. Maud, 1). July 5, 1873; ni. Xornian Bessey. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 601 

Dknja.mix F. Hkald, son of Col. Washington, b. Sept. 13. 
1843. "T- Kosilla Monk. They resitle at Xorth Buckfiekl where 
he ha.s been in business for many years. Chiklren : 

IVashiiigfoii. b. July 23, 1867; m. Ella Bessey. 

Addie Belle, b. Mar. 4, 1870; m. Rollin Stetson; d. in 1901. 

FJra E., b. July i, 1873. 

Maggie P., h. Dec. 6. 1880. 

Washintgtox Hf.ald, son of the ])rececHng. b. Jul\- 23. 1867. 
m. 1st Ella Bessey. 2d Lydia J. \arney. Mr. Heald is engaged 
with his father in the lumber Imsinoss at Xorth Buckficld. Xo 
issue. 

Exos D. Heald, youngest son of Col. Washington, b. July 7, 
1845. !■"• i^t. Ella A. Mitchell. 2d. Jane Swallow. Children by 
1st wife: 

Carl Mifdu-ll, b. Apr. 27. 1873; m. Zilla Tobin. 
Harold .lUcn, b. Sept. 25. 1875; d. young. 

HoDGDON. 

lEKii.MiAit HoDGLOX. a Carpenter, n-:oved from k^almorth to 
Gorham. Me., and was in the fort or block house there with his 
familv (luring tlie Indian War. His wife, Mary (probably Cot- 
ton) administered on his estate in October, 1749. She deeded 
land at West Gorham to Jeremiah Hodgdon (no doubt her son) 
in 1777. How many children. Jeremiah, senior, and his wife had 
is not known but there is a record of the baptism by Parson 
Smith of Falmouth of seven : 

James, baptized Aug. 20. 1732. 

Benjaiiiiii, Aug. 20, 1732. 

Eticabetli, Aug. 20, 1732; ni. in iJS^. Rcnj. Donnell. Buxton. 

Sefh, Sept. 17, 1732. 

John, 1734; m. 1770, Susannah Brown. 

Jeremiah, 173,7: m. 1st about 1760, Abigail . 2d Thankful Keen. 

Polly, 1740. living in Josiah Davis' family, unm. in 1780. 

William Cotton of Falmouth was guardian to minor children. 
Jeremiah. John and iNlary Hrulgdon. 

Ji-:Ri:MrAii Hodgdox, Jr., was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War and was a corporal in the Penobscot Exiiedition. His chil- 
dren l)y h's wife. Abigail, were: 

Mary, b. .-\ug. 2. 1762: James, b. Jan. 17. 1763.- Josef^h. h. Jan. 20. 1768. 
m. Mary Snow. s. in Orrington. Me.; Mehitablc. b. July 22. 1770; Sarah, 
b. Sept. 19, 1772; FJizaheth, b. Aug. i, 1774; Jeremiah, h. Sept. y. 1776; 



602 HISTORY OF BUCKFL^iLD 

Ehcnczcr, b. May 17. ij/i He moved !o Bucktield and late in life to 

Hebron where he died Aug. 24, 1833. PTis wife died and he m. 

2d Thankful Keen. Children recorded on Buckfield records b}- 2d wife: 
Ebcnczcr, b. May 27. 17S1 ; Tirrcl. b. Oct. 26, iJ'S.b: Abigail, b. May 12, 
1788; John, b. June 23. 1791 ; I.ydia, h. Feb. 7. 1704. 



Hutch IX. SOX. 

Tlie Hutchinsoiis of Buckfield anJ Hebron are de.'^ceiKlants of 
Richard Htitchinson, the American ancestor, who was b. in Eng- 
land in 1602 and with his wife, Ahcc and four children came to 
this country in 1634. 

A Hutchinson was Speaker of the House of Commons and 
several of that name were prominent during the reign of the first 
King Charles. 

Timothy Hutchinson was tb.e first of the name to settle in 
Buckfield. His father was Bartholomew of Sutton, Mass., who, 
m. Ruth Haven in 1763. The line of descent from Richard is 
Joseph, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Bartholomew. The latter had 10 
children. Timothy was the ^th child, 1). July 31. 1774. He m. 
Nizaula Rawson of Sutton. They came to B. before 1800 and 
settled in that part of the town afterwards set ofif into Paris. He 
was a man of ability and a noted school teacher. They had 14 
children — only the yl and 4th being recorded on Buckfield rec- 
ords, Nizaula, b. Feb. 13, 1801, m. Hermrn Towne and Marma- 
duke Rawson. b. Feb. 12, 1802, m. Sophia Cummings. 

The family finally removed to Albany where he d. Mar. 14. 
1867, in the 94th year of his age. The mother d. Feb. 25, 1869, 
past 90 years old. 

Elder Daniel Hutchinson of \\ '"ndham of another branch of 
the same family was an earl}' settler in Hartford and preached 
there and in Buckfield for many years. He also taught school in 
both towns with great success. He taught one at Enoch Flail's 
that Mr. Hall attended with his children and from Elder Hutch- 
inson, Hall acquired the first rudiments of what education he 
possessed. 

Elder Daniel Hutchinson was sent as a representative 
from Hartford to the legislature au'l wa^ al.^o elected state sen- 
ator. He died at an advanced age. The Ijirth of two of his 
children are recorded here: 

Richard, b. June 8, 1806 and Jesse, 1). Dec. 20, 1807. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 603 

Stetiiex HuTCiiiNsox, Jr., and his ?on, Joseph, were sol- 
diers from Windham in the War of the Revolution. The latter 
settled in Hebron. He married Rebecca Legrow of Windham 
and died Feb. 24, 1801. Children: 

Rev. Joseph, b. Nov. 3, 1779; m. Deborah Fuller. 
Samuel, b. Aug. 9, 1781 ; m. Mary Randall. 
Lydia, b. July 13, 1785; m. Nathaniel Keen. 
Stephen, b. Aug. 6, 1787; m. Asenath Gilbert. 
Henry H., b. Aug. 9, 1789; m. Caroline Lander. 
Daniel, b. Aug. 13, 1791 ; m. Charlotte Ricker. 
Rebecca, b. Aug. 10, 1793. 
Elizabeth, b. July 10, 1795. 
Benjamin R., b. Nov. 17. 1799; d. July 7, 1802. 

Stephen Hutchinson, son of Joseph, b. Aug. 6, 1787, m. 
Asenath Gilbert. He purchased the settling lot of Lemuel 
Crooker on South Hill in Nov., 181 2. Some years afterwards he 
moved to Buckfield village. His wife died and he m. 2d Jen- 
nette Alden of Greene. He died at an advanced age. Children 
by 1st wife : 

Stephen Drezv, b. Sept. 25, 1812; m. ]\Iary Atkinson. 

Chandler, b. Oct. 10, 1814; ni. Clarissa A. Buck. 

Horace, b. Mar. 23, 1817; m. Gustava Alden. 

Mark, b. Feb. 14, 1820 ; m. Eliza Alden. 

Betsey, b. about 1823 ; d. young. 

.'llbion P., h. Aug. 29, 1825. 

Children by 2d wife : 

Jennette Alden, b. Apr. 23, 1828; m. Samuel O. Record. 

Augusta Hayford, b. INIay 29, 1829. 

Asenath, b. May 28, 1832; m. Lewis O'Brion. 

Testa, b. Mar. 24, 1834; d. young. 

Stephen D. Hutchinson, Esq., oldest son of Stephen, b. 
Sept. 25, 181 2, m. Alary Atkinson. He was towni clerk in Buck- 
field for several years and was twice elected register of deeds. 
He moved to Paris Hill where after serving as register of deeds 
he was in trade to his death in 1897. Children recorded in 
Buckfield : 

Mary Annette, h. July 29, 1838; m. Sumner E. Newell; John Ran- 
dolph, b. Apr. II, 1840; Winfield Scott, b. Alay 27, 1845. 

Henry H. Hutchinson, son of Joseph, b. Aug. 9, 1789, m. 
Caroline Lander. They settled on the John Irish, Jr., settling lot 
on South Hill. He was much in town office and served as a Rep- 
resentative to the Legislature and was highly res])ected by all who 



604 HISTORY OF BUCKFlJiLD 

knew him. Tie was one of the leading men of his section and in 
the town ; was a Justice of the Peace and executed deeds, wills, 
etc. He died June 13, 1874. Children: 

Bcnjaiuii! R., h. Xov. 21, 1813; d. Jan. 9, T834. 

Henry H., Jr., b. June 30, 18:4: m. Ruth S. Cnshman. 

Hannah, b. IMar. 23, 1816: d. Xov. 20. 1820. 

Edumnd, b. Oct. IQ, 1819. 

Hknry H. Hltctiinson, Jr., son of the preceding, b. June 
30, 1814, m. Ruth S. Cushman. He followed in the footsteps of 
his fatlier and was very prominent in town affairs. With one 
exception (Enoch Hall, who served an equal number of years 
as one of the selectmen) he was a selectman, the longest 
period of an}- in town. He died June 2, 1887. She died in Lynn, 
l\Iass., Aug. 2-/. 1895, ''^^ged 84. Children; 

Caroline, b. July 13. 1838; m. WilHain II. .Mitchell. 

Sophronia, b. July 4, 1840. 

George Dallas, h. Nov. 24, 1843; resides in Lynn, Mass. 

John Hutchinson m. Hannah Lander in 1823. He died 
1846. .She died Jan. 16, 1875. Children: 

John Colby, b. Dec. 30, 1824 ; m. Emeline E. Doe. 
Josiali, h. June 29, 1827; m. Martha B. Gilbert. 
.fames F.. b. Oct. 10, 1829; d. ^lay 25. 1832. 

josiAH Hutchinson, son of John ante, h. June 29, 1827, ni. 
.Alartha B. Gilbert. They settled in the village where he was in 
trade for many years. She died Mar. 18, 1885. Children: 

Persis M., b. Sept. 5, 1852; Carro A., b. Dec. 25, 1855. 

Irish. 

James L"ish, the Xmerican ancestor of the Ikickfield Irishes, 
came from Oxfordshire, England, to Ealmouth, now Portland, 
3>le., about 1710. About 1740 he settled in Gorham, Ale. He 

married Elizabeth . They lived in Gorham where their 

youngest child, W^illiam, was probably born, till the Indian W^ar 
broke out, when they removed to a place of greater safety until 
the danger was over. Then they returned to their farm. He 
died when about 55 years of age. His widow survived him many 
years and died at the age of 84. Children : 

.John, b. Apr. 13, 1724: m. about 1745, Sarah : s. in Bucktown. 

Miriam, h. Sept. 13, 1725; \n. about 1743, Gamaliel Pote ; s. in Fal- 
moutli. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (J05 

Joseph, b. Apr. u, 1728; m. about 175.5. Hannali Doanc ; s. in Buck- 
town. 

Elizabeth, b. Apr. 19, 1730. 

Thomas, b. Feb. 27, 173,2; d. young. 

Gen. James, h. Jan. 21, 1736; m. 1756 Mary G. Phinney; s. in Gorhani. 

Thomas, b. Jan. 29, 1737; m. 1759, Deliverance Skillings ; s. in Gorham. 

JVaiiaiii, b. 1741 ; m. Alary .McAllister; s. in Bucktown. 

John Irish (see sketch), son of the precechiii^-, 1). Apr. 13, 
1724, m. Sarah . ChiUh-en : 

Abii^ail, b. ]3cc. 24, 1746; m. John Buck. 

Child baptized in 1749. 

Joh}i. Jr., b. Aug. 12, 1751 ; m. in 1775, Eleanor Moffit. 

Molly, b. June 15. 1753. 

James, b. Feb. 18, 1755; ni. in 1777, Mary Jenkins. 

Sarah, b. July 8, T757; m. in 177Q, Joshua Young. 

Elizabeth, b. June 11, 1760. 

JoHx Irish, Jr. ( see sketch ) with wife, Eleanor Aloffit from 
Gorhani, Ale., settled in Ihtcktown ahout 1783. He died in 1805. 
Children recorded here : 

Rebekah, b. July 8, 1776; m. Simeon Bicknell. 

Jacob, b. May 10, 1778. 

Abigail, b. Oct. 14, 1779; m. David Bicknell. 

John, b. Xov. 14, 1782; m. Fluldah Washburn. 

Abijah, b. .May 30, 1786. 

Eleanor, b. -\ug. 30, 1788; m. Joseph Rovve. 

Relief, b. Apr. 13. 1791 ; ni. Alfred Monk. 

Simeon, b. Mar. 2, 1793; m. Abigail Ricker. 

John Irish, son of the preceding, b. Nov. 14, 1782, ni. 
Huldah Washburn. Children recorded on B. records : 

Desire, b. Dec. 2, 1807; Emerline, b. Oct. 14, 1808: Eleanor, h. Feb. 20, 
1811 ; Reuben, h. Sept. 25, 1814; Jennette, b. May i, 1817; Oliver JVasJi- 
biirn, h. Jan. 16, 1820; Cynthia, b. Nov. 28, 1823. 

Joseph Irish (see sketch) settled in the south east part of the 
town before Jan. i, 1784. He married Hannah Doane in 1753. 
He died in 1808. There is no mention of liis children on our 
town records. 

Ebenezer Irish, son of the preceding, m. Bathsheba McFar- 
land. Children : 

Samuel, b. .Mar. 23, 1790. 

Elkanah. h. June 30, 1793; ni. Polly DeCoster. 

Ebenezer, Jr., b. Sept. 11, 1794; m. Priscilla Rowe ; s. in .\bington, 
Mass. 

Joseph, h. .A.vig. II, 1796; m. Miriam IMarsIiall ; s. in Hebron. 



bOG HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Dorothy, b. Aug. 17. iSoo. 

Daniel, b. Jan. 10, 1803 ; m. Hannah Foster. 

Freeman, b. June 26, 1807 : ni. Almeda Rowe ; ?. in Peru. 

Olive, b. Mar. 16, 181 1. 

Fidelia, b. Apr. 26, 1813. 

Elkaxaii Irish, son of the preceding, b. June 30, 1703. m. 
P^ollv DeCoster. He bought the farm which Peter White had 
as a setthng lot. Here he Hved to his death, June 27, 1869. She 
died Jan. 24. 1865. Children : 

Henry D., b. Oct. i. 1820; a physician; m. ^[ary Chase; s. in Turner. 

.l/i7r_v Ann, b. Sept. 11. 1S23 ; d. unm. 

Thomas Ahi'ood, b. Xov. i. 1828; m. Franeviila Hall; k. on railroad 
in Xew York. 

Jaeob Chandler, h. Feb. 18. 1832; d. Dec. 16, 1S50. 

Samuel R., b. Feb. 18, 1832 ; d. unm. 

EiT'ER William Irish, the youngest son of James, the Amer- 
ican ancestor, b. 1741, m. Mary ^McAllister. Their children 
were all bom before they settled in Buckfield. He died in 1821. 
Children: (Gorham records mention no Stephen or PhebeV 

Thomas, b. May 17. 1766; ni. Elizabeth Roberis. 

Edmund, b. Oct. 2. 1768; m. Bethiah Keen; s. in Hartford. 

Margery, b. Apr. 12, 1771 : m. William Lowell. 

Doreas, b. Sept. 2, I773: m- Jabez Taylor. 

Stephen, b. ; m. Hines. 

Phebe. b. ; n\ Jonathan Record. Jr. 

Miriam, b. Aug. 30, 1777. 

Sylvanus. b. Feb. 22, 1780; m. Mehitable Haskell. 

Thomas Irish, oldest son of Elder William, b. May 17. 1766, 
m. Elizabeth Roberts in 1792. They settled on North Hill in 
1799. He d. Jan. i, 1843. ^^"^^ ^^- i" 1856. Oiildren : 

Mary. b. June 28, 1793: rn. Bennett Pompilly: s. in Mt. Pulaski, 111. 

Miriam, b. Aug. 29. 1705; m. Jonas Spaulding; d. in 1892. 

Zoa. b. May 18. 179S; d. Mar.. 1799. 

Thomas^ Jr., b. Mar. 3, 1800; m. Eveline A. Daggett. 

FJi-abeth. b. Dec. 20, 1802; d. Oct.. 1S04. 

ll'illiam, b. June 25. 1S05 ; m. Lucilva Leavitt; d. in X. Dakota. 

Jonathan, b. Mar. 23, 1808; m. Isabella Felton; s. in Avon. 

Sylzira, b. May 15. 181 2; d. young. 

Thomas Irish, Jr.. b. Mar. 3. 1800, m. in 1835. Eveline A. 
Daggett. He lived for many years on the old homestead on 
North Hill, but finally moved to Rumford where he died Mar. 
19. 1879. He taught about 70 schools with great success and 
was regarded as an authority in grammar and composition. 




A 



HISTORY OI- BUCKFiELD 609 

Prof. Green, author of Green's Grammar, once said that Thomas 
Irish. Jr.. was the hest cjrammarian he had ever met. ITe was 
respected by all who knew him for his many sterling- (lualities. 
His wife d. in lUickheld, Feb. 24, 1902, aged 86. Children: 

Henry D., b. July 19, 1836; m. Catharine Hines. 
Jonathan N., h. Jan. 23, 1838; d. Nov. 13, 1013. 
Emily Stetson, b. Jan. 20, 1841 ; d. in Rnmford, Apr. 24, 1870. 
Phebe Morton, b. Sept. 4, 1843; d. Sept. 10, 1847. 

Henry Daccett Irish. Eso.^ son of the preceding, b. Jnly 19, 
1836, m. in 1866, Catharine Hines. He lived for a period in Far- 
niington and was a soldier in the Civil War from that town. 
Later he returned to LUickfield which he has since made his home. 
He is one of the most prosperous farmers in town. ]vlr. Irish 
is a prominent member of the Patrons of Husbandry and has held 
many offices of trust and has been Buckfield's representative in 
the lower branch of the legislature. Like his ancestors, he has 
alwavs taken great interest in education and temperance. 
Children: 

Mabel Maud, h. May 11, 1868; a graduate of Colby Univ. and is a suc- 
cessful teacher. 

Fred Spaulding, b. May 3, 1870; m. Mattie Pliillips. 

Harry Percival, b. Aiar. 19, 1873. 

Fred S. Irish, son of the preceding, b. May 3, 1870, m. Alat- 
tie Phillips. Children : 

Gilbert Henry, b. Feb. 19, i8g8; Frances Ellen, b. May 7, 1900. 

Svi.VANUs Irish, youngest son of Elder William, m. Me- 
hitable Haskell. He died Dec. 20, 1858. She died in 1854. 
Children : 

Margery, b. ]\lay 16, 1810; d. July 12, 1850. 

Betsey, b. Nov. 4, 1812; d. Sept. 12, 1838. 

Mary, b. Jan. 25, 1814; d. Oct. 31, 1849. 

Cyrus, h. Sept. 13, 1815 ; m. Catherine Davis. 

Sylvira, b. Apr. 5, 1817; d. Apr. 7. 1848. 

Miriam, b. Nov. 7, 1818; m. Courtney Record; d. Jan. 20, 1870. 

Eunice, b. 1820; m. Elder Daniel Hill; d. Mar. 8, 1858. 

Phebe, h. Apr. 12, 1823; ni. Flarrison Record; d. Apr. 19, 1866. 

Rosetta, h. Mar. 6. 1828 ; d. May 16, 1837. 

Benjamin L., h. Oct. 7, 1829; m. ist Mary Dearborn, 2d Lizzie Lowell. 

Cyrus Irish, son of Sylvanus, b. Sept. 13 1815, m. Catherine 
Davis. He had the homestead of his father on which he lived to 
his death, Jan. 14, 1865. She died 1877. Children: 



(JIO HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Dr. John C. h. Sept. 30, 1843; m. and s. in Lowell, Mass. 
Clara E., b. -May 5, 1850; d. Jan. 14, 1859. 
Mary, b. Nov. 3, 1857; d. young. 

Prof. Cyrus JV., h. Aug. 27, 1862; m. Carrie A. Jockovv ; s.in Lowell, 
Mass. 

Prof. Cyru.s Wendkli. Irish h. Aug. 27, 1862, m. 1889, Car- 
rie A. Jockow. They have oiie cliil 1, Eli>:abeth, b. June 13, 1893. 

lief ore he was three years old his father died. His mother 
dietl when he was fifteen years old and he went to hve with his 
brotlier. Dr. John C Irish at I.owel!. Mass , which he has since 
made his home. He graduated froni tlie liigh scliool in that city 
and entered Harvard where he graduated with distinction in 1885. 
He made a specialty of chemistry r.nd has since written a work on 
"Qualitative Analysis" which has become a text book on chem- 
istry. On leaving college he was electe-l priiicipal of the gram- 
mar school in Lowell and was promoted to teacher of chemistry 
in the high school. In ^lay, 1897, '""^ ^^''^-'^ elected headmaster of 
the high school, a position he holds at the present time. 

liKNj.v^iiiN L. Irish, youngest son of Sylvanus, b. Oct. 7, 
1829, m. Mary Dearborn. She died Mar. 4. 1864 and he m. 2d 
Lizzie Lowell. Children: 

Franklin, b. Oct. 18, iSC)^; d. young. 

Rose Edna, h. June 12, 1866; m. Daniel TutUe. 

Lillian, b. about 1868; m. Wright Crockett; s. in Sumner. 

joxATH.VN Irtsh, youugest .son of Thomas, senior, b. Mar. 3, 
1808, m. Isabella S. X. Felton. They settled in Avon, where he 
died about 1885. Children recorded here: 

Gcorpc P.. b. Oct. 22, 1842; Elizabeth S., h. May 26. 1844; Mary /.. b. 
TUar. 15. 1846; Franklin S., b. May 19. 1849; F.nrily A., b. Aug. 16, 1851. 

Joshua Irish, son of Echuund. h. in Hartford, m. Jcianna 
DeCoster and settled in Buckfiekl. He was prominent in town 
affairs and for two years during wdiich the ]\Iaine Law was 
passed, he represented the town in tlie Legislature. Lie died 
June 23, 1866. Children: 

Charles B., b. Sept. 22, \'^22; m. and s. 'n Aroostook Co.; 2 cliikh-cn 
recorded here, .-/;(;; Eliza, b. Xov. i. 1848 and Caroline R.. b. June 2t„ 1850. 
Sally B., b. Mar. 24, 1825; m. Stephen O. Record. 
Emily D., b. Ju.ne 17, 1827: ni. Charles Ik Atwood. 
Samuel F., b. Aug. 24, 1831 ; m. Aviary Caswell. 

Varancs D., b. Dec. 13, 1835; ™- Zoa . 

Win. H., b. May 10, 1838. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 611 

Samuel F. Jrtsh, son of Joshua, b. Aug. 24, 1831, m. !\Iary 
Caswell. He died in Turner about 1896. Children: 

Sain'I 11., h. Xov. 4, i860; ni. Lucy ^I. Tutt'.f. 
Hattic A., h. June 7, 1864; ni. George Dillingli;im. 
Frank U'., h. July 20, 1870; d. Nov. 17, 187J. 
Fred L.. b. Jan. 4. i^JS. 
Cora May, h. Oct. 26, 1884. 

SA:Muia^ H. Irish, son of the preceding, b. Xov. 4, i860, m. 
Lucy M. Tuttle. His wife died and he ni. 2d Cora Chase. 
Child : 

J'cshi May, b. May 26, 1889. 



Jenkins. 

Samuel Jenkins, Jr., a soldier in the War for Independence, 
h. Xov. 23. 1755, m. Oct. I, 1780, Lydia Dyer of Truro. Mass. 
lie came from Gorham to Buckfield before the census was taken 
in 1800. His father was also a settler here at that time. The 
famil_\- trace their ancestry to John', the American ancestor, who 
m. in 1652, ]Mary Ewer. Their 6th child was Thomas", b. Inly 
15, ir:66. He m. Experience Hamblen in 1687. The 5th child 
of Thomas was Samuel', b. Jan. 7, 1699, who m. in 1721, Alary 
Hinckley. Their 3d child was Samuel\ b. Oct. 20, 1727, who m. 
in 1749 ^lary Chipman of Barnstable and moved witli his family 
to Gorham and late in life came to Buckfield and perhaps died 
here. In 1777 he was one of the Committee of Safety in Gor- 
ham. All his sons were Revolutionary soldiers. Children all 
born in Barnstable : 

Capt. Josiah. b. Sept. 20, 1750; m. in 1776, Pruileiice Davis. 

Deborah, 1). Feb. 2, 1752; m. in 1774, Gershom Hamblen. 

Abiah, b. Jan. 21, 1754; m. in 1775, Richard Hines; d. in Turner, July 
26, 1834. 

Scrgt. SniimcJ, Jr., h. Xov. 23, 1755; m. ist Lyclia Dyer, 2(1 Thankful 
Snow. 

Molly, h. Jan. 16, 1758; w. in 1777, James Irish, Jr. 

Joseph, h. June 6, 1760; d. Apr. 20, 17S3 in tlie army near West Point. 

Serct. Samuel Jenkins served with distinction through the 
greater part of the war. His wife d. and he m. 2d in 1794, 
Thankful Snow. We do not know the date of his death. He 
has many descendants in Heliron and Turner. He died ■ 



612 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

She died Feb. 13, 1836, aged 83. Children by ist wife, recorded 
in Gorham : 

Rebecca, b. July 24, 1781 : Lydia, h. Xov. 3, 1783; Hannah, b. May 17, 
1785; Joseph, b. June 13, 178S. 

Children by 2d wife recorded here: 

Samncl. b. Apr. 26, 1795: Sally, h. Aug. 20, 1796; Olk'c, b. Sept. 28, 
1798; Benjamin, b. Apr. 24, 1800; Polly, b. Apr. 14, 1802; Rebecca, b. July 
12, 1805; Prudence, b. l\Iay, 1810; d. Nov. 9, 1849. 

Jordan. 

James Jordan and wife, Hannah Roberts, Hved for several 
years in the eastern part of the town. He was a settler here be- 
foie the census was taken in 1790. It does not appear that this 
family was related to the other Jordan families of Buckfield. He 
served in the Revolutionary War and had command "on the line"' 
in front of the enemy at Bemis Heig'hts, Saratoga, in the Bur- 
goyne campaign. He may have been a descendant of Rev. Rob- 
ert Jordan, a clergyman of the church of England, who came to 
this country and settled at Richmond's Island near Scarboro, 
about T641. He m. there Sarah, only child of John Winter. 
They afterwards settled at Spurwink, on the mainland — a name 
which has come down to this day. Children recorded on B. 
records : 

Joseph R., b. Sept. 8. 1781, m. Abigail L. Brcwn ; James, b. May 23, 
1783; Jonathan, b. May 4, 1785, d. Aug. 27, 1800; Hannah, b. May 3, 1787, 
m. John B. Ward; Mary Z., b. 1788, d. in infancy; FJizabcth, b. June 17, 
1789, m. Benj. Ward; JoJin, b. Apr. 20, 1791, m. Joanna Brown; Isaac, b. 
May 13, 1793; Eliphalet, b. Feb. 4, 1795, d. in early manhood; Esther, b. 
Apr. 2, 1797, m. John Cunningham; Sarah, b. Aug. 17, 1800; Philcna, b. 
1802, d. aged 2 years. 

Elijah Jordan, who settled in the southern part of the 
township, was a soldier in the War for American Independence 
and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He died after 1826, aged 
nearly 80. None of his children are recorded on Buckfield 
records. 

Benjamin Jordan, son of the preceding, m. Anna Sawyer. 
Children : 

JVilHam, h. Aug. 29, 1811 ; m. Arvilla Record. 
Cyrus, h. rDct. 25, 1813; m. Deborah Bryant. 
Polly, b. Oct. 20, 1815: m. Tristram G. Bickncll. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (J13 

Moses, b. Dec. 15, 1817; m. I'etsey Chcsley; d. Jan. 7, 1887. 
Betsey, b. Oct. 12. 1819; m. Alonxo Wood; s. in Hebron. 
Sophia .h\u, h. Sept. 8, 1821 ; m. Otis G. Turner. 
Benjamin, Jr., b. May 19, 1824; m. Sylvia Ann Maybew. 
Eunice, b. July 6. 1826; m. Arad Jordan. 
Nai-cissa U'., b. June 6, 1830; m. J. ATadison Cbcsley. 
Anna S., b. Dec. 16, 1833; m. Hiram Morril'. 
Adelhert S., b. Oct. 6. 1840; ni. Lorinda Swan. 

\\'iLLTAM Jordan, son of the preceding, 1). .\ug'. 29, 181 1, ni. 
Ar\'illa Record. Children : 

jrHUaui F., b. Aug. 12. 1834; m- Bryant. 

Florian. h. y[a.y 20, 1840; m. Jennette B. Jordan. 

Cyrus Jordan, son of JJenjamin, sen., b. Oct. 25, 1813, m. 
Deborah Bryant. Child : 

Amanda, h. May 22, 1841 : m. Carroll Bicknell. 

i)EXjAMix JoRD.xx, Jr., brother of the preceding, b. Alay 19, 
1824, m. Sylvia Ann ^layhew. Children: 
L. Anneiic, h. Oct. 31. J846; m. Charles Ma:<im. 
Alice I., b. June 14, 1852: m. Carroll .\. Taylor. 

Adelf.ert S. Jordan, brother of the preceding, b. Oct. 6, 
1840, m. Lorinda Swan. Child: 
Shcnnau A., h. ]\Iar. 31, 1867. 

Elijah Jordan, Jr., son of Elijah, Sen., m. Bathsheba Tur- 
ner. He d. Jtme 31, 1869. She d. June 14, 1863. Children: 

Isaac, b. Xov. 11, 1815 ; m. Louisa Monk. 

Elijah, b. Dec. 14, 1817; m. Relief Monk. 

Levi, b. Xov. 22, 1819; m. Elvira Brown. 

Arad, b. Mar. 29, 1822 ; m. Eunice Jordan. 

Mary, b. Feb. 19, 1833 ; never married ; d. Aug. 7, 1902. 

Celinda L.. b. Dec. 14, 1840; m. ist Geo. W. Farris, 2d Augustus May- 
iiew. 

I.-^AAC Jordan, son of E!ii;di, Jr., b. Xov. 11, 1815, m. Louisa 
]\Ionk. He d. Feb. 3, 1890. Slie d. Xov. 16, 1890. Children: 

Melissa Ann, b. Dec. 12, 1836; m. Amos K. Winslow. 

Ardelia P., b. May 22. 1839; m. .Albion Smith. 

Jenneife B., b. X'ov. 22. 1843 ; m. Florian Jordan. 

Rufiis M., 1). Jan. 20, 1844 ; d. Nov. 13, 1844. 

Lorena, b. .\ug. 13, T847; m. Stillman Gurney. 

Elijah Jordan, brother of the preceding, b. Dec. 14, 1817, 
m. Relief Monk. Lie d. at Mechanic h'alls, June 6, icx>o. She 
d. there al.^^o Apr. 9, 1895. Children : 

Capt. Henry Miltemore, b. Apr. 11, 1836; m. Hawkes ; d. Nov. 

18, 1875; soldier in Civil War; s. in ]\Tinot. 



614 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Samuel K. D., b. Dec. 27, 1839; rn. Alartha O. Buck; s. in Mechanic 
Falls. 

Rosanua O., b. Mar. 17. 1845; "i- Carroll Morrill. 

Prince A., b. June 9, 1850; m. ist Etta Knight. 2d Airs. Carrie (Foster) 
Rounds : s. in Mechanic Falls. 

Lf.vi Jordan, brother of the preceding, b. Nov. 22, 1819, m. 
Elvira Brown. Children : 

Amanda M.. b. Sept. 25, 1857; m. Fletcher. 

Betsey E., b. July 10, 1859; d. young. 

Morris H., b. .^pr. 10, 1861. 

Levi H., h. Oct. 4, 1863 ; m. Lunt. 

Arad Jordan, brother of the preceding, b. Mar. 29, 1822; m. 
Eunice Jordan. Children : 

Syh'ia Ann, b. Jan. 6, 1845. m. Keith; Kimlall T., b. Dec. 18, 1851, 

s. in Auliurn. 



Lap HAM. 

AcijAii L.\piiA.M was b. in Scituate, Alass., Aug. 15, 1769. 
He m. Sarah Hartwell and settled in Buckfield in 1793. With 
him came his father. John Lapham and wife, Uathsheba Eanies. 
John Lapham was a soldier in the Revolution. His wife died 
about 1801 and he m. 2d Abigail, dau. of John Buck. She d. 
and he m. 3d widow Sarah (Davie) ALaxim. He moved to 
Woodstock in 1827 and died ]\Iarch i, 1847. Children by ist 
marriage : 

Betsey II., h. Feb. 18, 1792; d. in B., Apr. 14, 1858; unm. 

Sylvia, b. Dec. 8, 1794; m. John Maybe w. 

John, b. Feb. 28, 1797; d. Apr. 23, 1800. 

Nathan, b. June 17, 1799; d. Sept. 21, 1801. 

Abijah. b. Mar. 7, 1801 ; d. in infancy. 

Children by 2d marriage : 

John, b. May 6, 1802; m. ist Louvicy Berry, 2d Rebecca Phinney; s. 
in Woodstock. 

Thomas, b. May 6, 1803 ; m. Sophronia Crooker. 

Sally, b. Nov. 13, 1804; w. Charles Crooker. 

Cindcrilla. b. Aug. 8. 1806; m. ist Solomon Ctnnmings. 2d Joseph Cuni- 
mings. 

Phcbc, b. Mar. 31, 1809; d. unm. 

James, b. Feb. 8, 1811 ; m. Sally Moody; s. in Woodstock. 

Child by 3d marriage : 

Abijah, h. Sept. g, 1826; d. Oct. 25, 1830. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 615 

L.\TII,\^^. 

The Lathams of ^ilaine claim descent from Rol)crt Latham, 
the American ancestor, who m. Susanna \\ in slow, dau. of John 
and ALary (Chilton) W'inslow. The latter came on the May- 
flower and was the first female according' to tradition to land on 
Plymouth Rock. Robert Latham was one of the proprietors of 
Bridgewater and tlie land which he settled on there has rema'ned 
in the family of his descendants ever since. 

The line of descent from Robert' to Barzillai,"' the tirst of tlie 
name to settle in IVjckfield is as follows: Chiltoir m. Susanna 
Kingman, Charles'' m. Susanna \\'o;)dward. Woodward"* m. Re- 
becca Dean. Barzillai Latham was born in Bridgewater. Apr. 
3, 1778. He m. ALary \\'ashl)urn, b. June 29, 1780. He ]mr- 
chesed Aug. 18, 1801, of Jonathan Roberts, land at what was aft- 
erwards called the "Federal Corner." He made the journey with 
his wife whom he m. Xow 30, 1801, on horseback. He appears 
to have been a man of decided convictions and a leader in that 
part of the town. He is said to have given the land for the 
school house and burying ground. In Sept.. t8i8. he exchanged 
his farm at the Corner w"th Caleb Shaw. In the deed he made 
reservation of the land on which the school house was built but 
said nothing about the burxing ground. He d. on the farm 
bought of Caleb Shaw, .Ma_\- 3. i8')3. aged 85 )-ears. His wife d. 
Aug. 19, 1854. Children : 

Benjamin IVashbiini, h. Oct. 18, 1802; d. at ^lonroe, Mich., Dec. 2, 
187 1. 

Rebecca D., h. Jan. 2.^, 1805: m. Job Cha>e ; ^. in Livermore. 

Barzillai. Jr., b. Nov. 3, 1806; m. Angelia Aldrich of Livermore, an 
aunt of the anthor, Tho'nas Bailey Aldrich. Jfe d. at Pensacola. FJa., of 
yellow fever. Sept. 11. 1839. • 

Sally, b. May 10, 180S; m. \\m. \\ . Lucas; s. in (luilford. 

Azcl Sears, b. May 16, i8io; m. Judith Bradford. 

George, b. .Aug. 17, 1812; d. at Galveston, Tex;is, of yellow fever, Oct. 
24, 1839. 

Eliab, b. May 13. i8jo; d. at Guilford from falling tree, Feb. 9, 1837. 

Julia Ann, h. Mar. 9, 1822; m. Rev. J. C. Morrill, Dover, Me. 

Susan Blanch.ard, b. ^L'lr. it, 1825; d. at W'elkslcy Hill, -Mass., Feb. 
ro, 1901. 

XiVA. Si-:. \us L.vrii.xM. son of the ])receding, b. May iTi, 1810, 
m. Judith Bradford of Turner, lie li\-ed man\- years on the 
farm where Irs father died and all his children were t);>rn there. 



(516 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

He d. in Portland. July i~ . 1877. His wife d. in Livermore. 
Feb. 5, 1872. Children : 

Charles Dean, b. July 24. 1830 : 'H- Annie Bailey. 
Stephen Bradford, h. Feb. 25, 183S; m. Xancy K. Bond. 
Arthur BarsUlai, b. Xov. 30, 1842; m. Olive W. Poole. 
Aiirilla Susan, b. Mar. 1847: d. Dec, 1853. 

Stephen B. Latham, son of Azel S. and Judith (Bradford) 
Latham, was born in Buckfield, Feb. 25, 1838. He married Miss 
Xancv E., daughter of Elisha and Adaline C. ( Rice ) Bond. 
They reside at Hopkinton, Mass. Children : 

Clara I., b. Sept. 16, 1861. d. Aug. 6. 1862; Frederick £.. b. Sept. 27, 
1863; Walter C. b. Apr. 15, 1866, d. June 6, 1003; Helen M., b. Dec. 12, 
1870; Leon F., b. July 4, 1874, d. X^ov. 30, 1876; Everett S., b. Apr. 14, 
1876; Idaline, b. July 4, 1877, d. Aug. 2, 1878; Frank E., b. Jan. 3, 1879; 
Susie M., b. Dec. 8. 1881 ; Grade, b. May 6, 1883, d. May 15, 1883 ; Minnie 
Myrtle, b. Xov. 25, 1884. 

Arthur B. L.vtham. son of Azel S. and Judith (Bradford) 
Latham was born in Buckfield. Xov. 30, 1842. Li 1862 he en- 
listed in Co. C, 20th Regt., [Maine Infantry \*ols.. which was one 
of the best organizations in the service. He was promoted to 
first corporal and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, 
^lay 6. 1864, and discharged in June of the next year with the 
rank of sergeant. For two years after the war he clerked in a 
dry goods store in Boston and Providence In 1867 he pur- 
chased the stage line from Auburn to Livermore. He married 
Miss Olive W. Poole of Livermore, Dec.' 19. 1868. in which town 
they made their home tdl Sept., 1876, when they moved to West 
Auburn, where they have since resided. Mr. Latham was in 
the hotel business for awhile in Livermore and also was in trade 
there. Since residing in Auburn he has been engaged in busi- 
ness, built a large store and for several years was landlord of the 
Elm House. Mr. Latham was representative to the legislature 
from Auburn in 1881 and 1883 and was elected one of the 
assessors in '89, '90 and '91. He has been very successful in 
business and amassed a large property. Children : 

Ina Mayhellc, b. June 16, 1870, m. Sidney Atwood: Emeline Maud. b. 
Nov. 20. 1872; Perley, h. Sept. 26. 1880. d. young. 

Charles D., son of Azel Sears, b. in Buckfield, July 24. 1S33, 
m. Annie Bailey of Gray. He settled at Brettun's Mills and run 
ihe hotel there for several vears. Finallv settled in Portland and 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 617 

was in the livery stable business and ran a hotel on I'orest Ave- 
nue for many years. Now resides at Cape Elizabeth and is in 
the produce business. His wife died about i88i. He never re- 
married. Children : 

Aurilla Sitscitt, b. in Biickfield, 1857; never ni. 

Hartley Jl'illis, b. in Buckfield, Apr. 19. i860; m. Nellie J. Al>hott; 2 c., 
Clifton, d. in infancy; Lcroy Clinton, b. Nov. 28, 1893; resides at Cape 
Elizabeth. 

Nellie, b. 1863; died about 22 years of age. 

Just die, b. 1866, died about 20 years of age. 

Bennie, h. 187 — , died about 3 years of age. 

Annie, b. 187 — , died about 5 years of age. 

Leoxaro. 

X.\tii.\xii-:l Lf.oxard born in Middleboro, Mass., Dec. 20, 

1751, came from there to Buckfield with his wife. Hope , 

born July 7, 1756 and six children and settled in that section of 
tlie town since called the Leonard nei.^hborhood. It was one of 
the most substantial families in tmvn. The sons, Nathaniel and 
Jacob, and the daughter, Susannah, called Susan, were educated 
for school teachers and were very successful. The former became 
a land surveyor and drew a plan of the town. He was several 
times the candidate of the whig party for representative to the 
legislature. He was respected and revered by all classes for liis 
uprig"htness, morality and sound jtidgment. Jacob was also re- 
garded as one of the town's most worth}- citizens. He had the 
farm of his father on which he li\ed with his brother, Nathaniel, 
and his sisters, Susannali and Hope. Susamiah taught about 50 
terms of scliool. She was well informed on all the current topics 
of her time and had a remarkable memory of events. Much of 
the unwritten history of the town was lost when she died. The 
father died July 4, 1833. The mother died Nov. 26, 1842. 
L hildren : 

Nathaniel, Jr., b. Oct. 10, 1792; d. June 2~, 1875. 

Jacob, b. Mar. 19, 1795; d. Jan. >:?„ 1875. 

Hope, b. July 29, 1796: d. Mar. 30. 1867. 

Sarah, b. Feb. 2, 1798; m. F.lisha Morton; d. July 16. 1883. 

Elkanah, b. about 1800; s. in Mass. 

Su.'^annah, b. Feb. 16. 1802; d. Oct. 3. 1882. 

The epitaphs on the grave stones of Xathan'el. Jacob and 
Susannah are worthy of insertion here : 

Nathaniel's: "Jllw can say I ever did him n'rong?" 

Jacob's: "/ tried to serve my G.d by dealijii^ justly zcitJi my 
fellozv men." 

Susannah's: "She alzcaxs tried to do her duty." 



618 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 




Thomas Loner 



Bathsheba Long 



Loxc. 

The I'uckfield Longs are descended from an ancient family 
of Xorth Carolina, where its progeny became numerous during 
the Colcn'al period. Their lineage is traceable from James 
Long, who died in 1682. Miles Long* of the fifth generation 
from this James, came from Xorth Carolina to Plymouth. Mass.. 
where, in 1770, he married Thankful Clark, born in that town in 
1750. He was lost at sea about 1776. His children were Hetsey, 

who m. Peterson and Thomas, hr'vn August. 1771. who 

m.. Xov. 8, 1705, Bathslie]ia Churchill, h. May 26. 1770. I'his 
Thomas was the first of the family in lluckfield. He resided in 
Plymouth and Middleboro and came from the Ir.tter town to 
Buckfield in i8o5, settling on Xorth Hill. He purchased the 
settling lot of Thomas Coburn. then owned by Danel Howard, 
our first lawyer. He d. Oct. i5. 1861. His wife d. July 2/, 
1853. Children born in Mas.s. : 

Betsey, b. 1796; ni. Isaac Ellis. 

Thomas, b. 1798; m. Dunham of Plynioudi. Mass. 

Zadoc, b. July 28, 1800: ni. Julia Temple Davis of Xew Gloucester 
Sallv, b. 1802; m. Lucius Lorino-. 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (jl9 

Miles, h. 1804; m. Ann Cridgham. 

BathsJieha, d. in infancy. 

Born in Buckfield : 

Harriet, b. Dec. 14, 1806; d. yonng. 

George IV., d. in infancy. 

irashingfon, Apr. 6, 181 1. 

Harriet, Apr. 6, 181 1; m. 1st Bennett Bray, 2d E. O. Lovering. 

Bathsheha Churchill, Jan. 21, 1813; m. Isaac Bearcc. 

Thankful Clark, Oct. 2S, 1815 ; d. in infancv. 

Thankful Clark, Sept. 5. i8i8; m. Capt. William W. Bacon. 

Thomas LoiVG. eldest son of tlie preceding, b. in Aliddleboro 
in 1798, came with his parents to Buckfield in 1806. He was by 
trade a boot maker and was also an accomplished musician, espe- 
cially with the llute and clarinet, often contributing" his talents to 
the choir and social occasions of the village. He entered the 
naval service as a musician in 1826, serving over three years on 
the U. S. Frigate Brandywine, and became leader of its band. 
The cruise was mostly in the South Pacific, the vessel often 
touching at .South American ports, from which he wrote to his 
brother, Zadoc, many interesting letters, descriptive of his voy- 
ages and the countries visited. He resided in Buckfield and also 
in Plymouth, Mass., where he married. He died in Buckfield in 
1841, and is buried in the cenietery at the foot of X'orth Hill. 



LOTIIROP. 

The Lothrops who settled in Ihickfiehl and Leeds (in the lat- 
ter town among the most ])rominent of its citizens ) w^ere 
descended from Mark' Lothrop, wdio came from England about 
1650. He settled first at Salem, next at Duxbury and finally at 
Bridgewater, Mass., in 1656. According to family tradition, he 
was a brother of Rev. John Lothrop of Yorkshire, England, who 
was pfstor of a church society for awhile in London. The father 
was Thomas of Cherry Burton and the grandfather was John 
Lowthorpe of Low Thorpe — (Thorpe is the name of a hamlet, 
farm or place). Rev. John came to Mass. in the ship (iriftin in 
1634 and settled first at Scituate and then at Barnstable. He 
was twice married and liad a family of six sons and- four daugh- 
ters. Mark' Lothroj) died in 1686. Children: 

r.H.-:abeth, m. luisign Sam'l Packard, Jr. 

Mark, d. in i6gi from disease contracted in the expedition against 
the Frcncli and Indians in Canada. 



620 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Samuel 2(1. m. Sarah Downer. 
Edward, d. without issue. 

Samuel Lothrop, who married Sarah Downer, settled in 
Bridgewater, Mass. He d. about 1724. Children: 

Mary, b. 1683 ; m. Josiah Keith. 

Samuel, b. 1685; m. Abiel Lasselle. 

John, b. 1687; m. Mary Edson. 

Mark, b. 1689; m. Hannah Alden, great-granddaughter of John of the 
Mayflower. 

Sarah, h. 1693 ; m. Solomon Packard ; d. yor.ng. 

Joseph, h. ; m. Mary Snow; d. without issue. 

Edxcard, b. 1697; d. 1724. 

]\[ark Lothrop. who married Hannah .\lden in 1722. settled 
in Easton. Mass. She died, aged 81. Clnldren : 

John 

Scfh, m. 1755. Martha Conant. 

Jonathan, m. 1747. Susannah Johnston. 

Joseph, m. Content Washburn and s. in Easton in 1746. Children. 
Sefli, Jonathan, Joseph and probably others. 

Joseph, b. abotit 1757, m. ^lartha Packard, born in 1760, dau. 
of Joseph and Sarah (Johnson) Packard. They settled in Buck- 
field. He d. in 1836. She d. about 1840. Children: 

Stephen, b. ; s. in Gardiner and Augusta. 

Edward, b. 1790; m. Rebecca W'hitman. 

Martha, b. about 1791 : m. Joel Foster, Jr. 

Abraham, h. ; m. Hannah Pierce. 

Margaret, b. : m. Elias Taylor. 

Edw.\rd Lothrop married Rebecca, daughter of Jacob and 
Abigail (Packard) A\Tiitman. b. March 31, 1791. Children: 

Jane, b. Dec. 9, 1809; m. Joshua Crooker ; s. in Minot. 

Edward IVilkinson, b. Oct. 26, 1813. 

Delana, b. Aug. 17, 1815 ; d. unni.. ^lay 9, 1875. 

Jacob Whitman, b. Apr. 2;^, 1818; m. Elizabeth M. Warren; s. in 
Sunnier. 

Rebecca, b. May 3, 1S20: d. unm. July 3. 1872. 

.-Abigail, b. Aug. 19, 1823; m. Joseph H. Farr; ?. in Oxford. 

Bethuel Kinsley, b. Aug. 18, 1825 ; d. unm. 187 — . 

Margaret, b. Aug. 29, 1827; m. Oilman G. Libby. 

Lorinda J'esta, h. Aug. 20. 1828; m. Levi P. McAllister: s. in Lovell ; 
she d. Mar. 18, 1867. 

Bethiah, b. Apr. 15, 1829: m. Geo. G. Chaffin : s. in Paris. 

Elhanan Winchester, b. Feb. 17, 1831 ; d. unm. 

I^oiiisa Ann, b. Oct. 9. 1834; d. unm. 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 021 

AitRAiiAM LoTiiROP, brother of the preceding, married Han- 
nah Pierce and settled near the old homestead. Children : 

Hannah Gilbcit. h. Aug'. 5, :8o8; Ahrahaw. Pierce, b. Aug. 18, 1810; 
Content Washburn, h. Sept. 19, 1812, m. Harrison Davie, s. in Hebron ; 

Emeline, b. Sept. 12, 1814; Delphina Virgil, b. Oct. 26, 181 7, m. ; Al- 

mira Cunimings, b. June 3, 18121, m. Edward W. Lothrop, s. in Mass.; 
Joseph Packard, b. Mar. 21, 1823; MyrliUa Cole, b. Oct. 28, 1825; Elias 
Taylor, b. .Alay 12, 1828. 



Lowe. 

D.wiD LovvK, a Revolutionary soldier, came from Sanford, 
Ale. He ni. Ruth Clay of Wells. He died in Sept., 1849, aged 
91. She died in 1830, aged about 65. Children: 

David, Jr., m. Catharine Warren; s. in Lincob.i. 

Moses, m. Margaret Coburn. 

Ephraim, m. ^laria Seabury. 

Lysander, m. 1st Sarah J. Gammon, 2d Desire A. Rowe. 

Dorcas, m. John Rounds. 

Sally, m. Abner Rounds. 

Betsey, d. unmarried. 

Ruth, m. Sanford Xoble. 

Abigail, d. in infancy. 

Esther, m. Jeremiah Smith. 

Polly, m. James Dunham. 

Moses Lowe, son of the preceding, m. Margaret Coburn. 
He d. Apr. 21, 1878. Children: 

Louisa, h. Aug. 4. 182S, m. Russell B. Hersey of Livcrmore; Jefferson, 
h. Mar. 20, 1831, m. Delphina Farrar; JVni. Wallace, b. Feb, 7, 1834; 
I'aranes D., b. Apr. 14, 1836, d. ]Mar. 25, 1837; Celcstia J., b. Feb. 9, 1838; 
Cordelia, h. May 10, 1840; Julia .i. /'., b. July 25, 1842. 

Ephr.mm Lowe, son of David, the Revolutionary soldier, ni. 
Maria Seabury. He d. June 22, 1881. She d. July 20, 1891, 
aged 86. Children : 

JJoracc, b. Dec. 20, 1829, m. Melissa M. Andrews ; Corydon, b. Nov. 
21, 1831 ; Delphini, b. Oct. 20, 1837; Dexter M., b. Mar. 28, 1838; 0::ias M., 
b. Dec. 8, 1839; .Snel F. P., b. Jan. 2s, 1842; Preston S., b. Nov. 7. 1849, 
m. Martha E. Atwood. 

Preston S. Lowe, son of the preceding, b. Xov. 7, 1849, m. 
Martha E. Atwood. Child : 
Frank Ativood, b. May 6, 1890. 



622 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Lysander Lowe, son of David, the Revolutionary soldier, b. 
about 1813, m. Sarah Jane Gammon. Cliildren : 

Romanzo C, b. Feb. 8, 1849; Esther J., b. Feb. 28, 1841 ; Mary F., b. 
Apr. 2, 1843. 

His wife died and he married 2d, Desire A. Rowe. Children : 

Emma, b. Jan. 18, 1863; Charles U\\<;h-\, b. Xov. 2t„ 1864. m. Sarah 
J. Smith. 

He died July 17, 1898, in his 86th year. His 2d wife died 
Nov. 9, 1891. 

Charles W. Lowe, son of the preceding, b. Xov. 23, 1864, m. 
Sarah J. Smith. Children: 

Harry L., h. Feb. 22, 1888; Jl'altcr R., b. Feb. 28, 1890. 

LoWKL.L. 

The Lowell faniily is one of the most respectable and sub- 
stantial in Buckfield. The father of the first settler here of that 
name was Stephen, b. at Amesbnry, Alass., Oct. 6, 1728. He m. 
Anne Bolton of Falmouth, Me., Dec. 20, 1753. The Hne of 
descent from Percival, the American ancestor, is Richard", Per- 
cival', Gideon*, Stephen"' to Stephen'' mentioned above. The lat- 
ter served in the War of the Revolution, settled first in Windham 
and after his son, Thomas, had selected a lot for settlement in 
Bucktown and built a log house, removed here. Before the Rev- 
olution, he had followed the sea for a livelihood. His wife d. 
in Buckfield, June 13, 1801. He d. two days after. Children: 

Miriam IV., h. Falmouth, 1755; m. Ricliard Thiirlo. 

Molly, b. Falmouth, 1758; m. Nathaniel Gammon. 

Thomas, b. Fabnouth, Jan. 14, 1761 ; m. Judith Farrar. 

Anne, baptized July 31, 1763. 

Stephen, Jr., baptized Apr. 17, 1765. 

William, b.' Windham, May 28, 1868; m. ist IMargery Irish, 2d Betsey 
Blake. 

Thomas Lowell (see sketch), ';on ot the preceding, b. Jan. 

14, 1 76 1, m. Judith Farrar. He d. Sept. 10, 18 10. The widow 

moved to T^itchfield. She d. in Augusta in 1863. Children: 

Nancy, b. Dec. 7, 1791 ; m. Joseph Jenkins: s. in Richmond, Me. 
Abigail, b. Sept. 8, 1792; m. Thomas Smitli ; s. in Gardiner. 
Reuben, b. Dec. 31, 1794; m. Sarah Smith; s. ist in Litchfield, 2d in 
Calais. 

Sally, b. Jan. 14, 1797; m. ist Benj. Hanscom, 2d Hall. 

Tamar, b. May 17, 1799; d. at xA.ugusta, i8f;8; unm. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 623 

A)iiic. h. Dec. i6. 1801; m. llcniian Russell; s, in the West. 
Thomas, Jr., h. Xov. 6. 18J3; 111. .Martha J. Smith; s. in Lee. 
Judith, h. Sept. 5, 1809; 111. 1st John Smith, jd W'm. Sihley ; s. in Au- 
gusta. 

W'lLLiA^r LowELF., bro. of the preceding-, b. Alay 2^, 1768, m. 
-Alargcry Irish. 1). tJorham, \\)V. 12. 1771. She d. Xov. 12, 1812 
and he ni. 2d Mrs. IJet.-ey lUake. lie was a trader for many 
vears at Lowell's Corner in the s.e. part of the town. After- 
wards moved to West IMinot, where he died Jttly 10, 1840. His 
lemains were interred in th.e Lowell burying ground in lUickfield. 
Children all by ist wife: 

Hon. James, h. Jan. 3, 1791 ; m. Hannah Goff; s. in Lewiston. 

Mark, b. Apr. 2;^, 1793 ; m. Lydia Atkinson. 

Mary, b. Sept. 5, 1796; m. Ichabod Bonney. 

Dorcas, b. Sept. 15, 1798; m. Philip Chamberlain. 

Hon. Stephen, b. Feb. ii, t8oi ; m. Tst Delanty Goff, 2d Huldah B. 
Anderson ; s. in Sangerville. 

Hon. IViUiam, b. Oct. 30, 1803; m. ist Alniira Dunham, 2d Atossa 
Greenwood, 3d Hannah Atwood ; s. in Minot. 

ElicabctJi, h. ]\[ar. 20, 1805; m. Samuel R. Eearce, Hebron. 

]\Iargery, b. May 25, 1809; m. William Howard, Hebron. 

Miriam, b. July 6, 1S12; m. Edmund H. Shaw; s. in Sangerville. 

]\L\RK LowF.i.L, son of the preceding, b. Apr. 23. 1793, m. 
Lydia Atkinson. He settled on the old homestead. He was a 
man of capacity and was selected by his party which was in a 
minority in the town and district for Representative to the Leg- 
islature and representevl it in conventions. He d. Oct. 15, 1884. 
She d. Feb. 24, 1873. Children: 

Rev. John A., b. Jan. 2^, 1823; m. Julia A. Chase — prof, at Bates Col- 
lege ; d. in Wells. 

Hubbard, h. Apr. 11, 1824; m. Annis P. Record. 

Benjamin A., b. July 6, 1826; d. Oct. 6, 1827. 

Benjamin P., h. Sept. 24, 1828; m. Clara Bonney Davie; s. in Auburn. 

Lydia E., b. Dec. 2. 1829; m. Benjamin L. Irish. 

Lawa J., h. Apr. 20, 1831 ; m. Alonzo N. Record. 

Hunr,.\Rn Lowell, son of the preceding, b. Apr. 11, 1S24, m. 
Annis P. Record. He settled on the homestead of his father. 
Children : 

Abby F., b. Oct. 17, 1849; m. Winfield S. lUicknam. 

Alice J., b. May 26, 1854. 

Georgie A., b. Nov. 19. 1855; m. Henry G. Shaw. 

James A., b. Aug. ii. 1857; m. Nellie Conant. 

Lydia E., b. Dec. 27. 1859; ni. Frank Packard. 

Percival E., b. June 12, 1869; m. Agnes E. Robinson; s. in So. Paris. 



624 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

James Arthur Lowell, son of the preceding-, b. Aug. ii, 
1857, m. Nellie Coiiant. He lives on the home place in Ruckfield. 
Children : 

Harry, b. Nov. 28, 1894; John E., b. Dec. 2, 1896; U'illiain R., h. June 
30, 1898; Helen F., b. Oct. 7, 1900; Clinton II., h. July 2y, 1902. 

Perci\'al E. Lowell, bro. of the preceding, b. June 12. 1869, 
m. Agnes E. Robinson. He settled at South Paris where he u 
July 2, 1902. She d. Xov. 2, 1901. Child: 

Eugene I'crcival, b. Nov. 13, 1892. 

Matthews 

John Matthews, a Revolutionary' soldier, with wife, Hannah, 
settled in the s. e. part of the town before t8oo. They came here 
from the vicinity of Portland. We have no dates of their deaths, 
children all born before coming here : 

J'alentine, b. Sept. 3, 1767, m. Sarah Coburn ; Hannah, b. ^lar. 9, 1770, 
m. Jonas Coburn ; Lucy, b. Aug. 15, 1773; John, Jr., b. Aug. 23, 1777; 
Samuel, b. June 22, 1779; Caroline, h. Aug. 7, 17S2; JVin. b. Alar. 29, 1784, 
m. Eliza Buck. 

Valentine^ b. Sept. 3, 1767, m. Sarah Coburn, Feb. 18, 
1789. The family moved to Sumner before 1800, where the 
three last children named were born. Children recorded on our 
records : 

Valentine, b. July 14, 1790; Sally, h. Mar. 22, 1792; Jabcz, h. Jan. 
29, 1794; Elizabeth, b. Mar. 8, 1796; A.m, b. Stunner, Jan. i, 1799, m. 
Susan V. Mann, ?. in Paris; Samuel, b. Sunmer, Feb. 19, 1806, m. Patience 
Rowe, s. in Paris; IVinthrop, h. Sumner, June i8, 1808, m. Mary Barbour, 
s. in Paris. 

Maxim. 

The Maxims of lUickfield and I^aris are descended from 
Samuel (wife's name Hannah) who died at Rochester, Mass., in 
1762. The line of descent is as follows: Samuel, Nathan and 
Silas. 

Capt. Benjamin, son of Silas, b. Nov. 30, 1814, m. Susan 
Harlow and settled in Buckfield on a farm bordering on the Paris 
line. His wife d. Oct. 27,, 1869. He moved to Paris Hill in 
1894, where he died after 1900. Children: 

Maria L., b. Mar., 1840; ni. ist James F. Hooper, 2d Benj. Turner. 

J{cnry JI., b. Mar. 28, 1841; m. Alice Ripley: s. in Paris. 




\ ••••^/^rAnklin J^cixirrt / 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 627 

Olban A., b. Oct. 14, 1842; m. Amanda M. Partridge; s. in Paris. 
Wm. IV., b. Sept. 19, 1844; m. Henrietta Cummings; .s. in Paris. 
Franklin, b. Jan. 4, 1847 ; m. Flora A. Evans ; s. in Paris. 
Amanda, b. Nov. 3, 1848; m. Bernard E. Vining; s. in Farniington. 
Rose, b. Aug. 30, 1850; d. in Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 26, 1898. 
Daniel (V., h. Feb. 13, 1853; m. Martba Daugherty. 
Martha, h. Apr. 16, 1857; resides in Cambridge, Mass. 
j\Iary, h. Apr. 16, 1857; resides in Camljridge, Mass. 

Henry Harrison jMaxim, son of Capt. Benjamin, born in 
Biickfield, March 28, 1841, married, July 4, 1865, Miss Alice 
Elizabeth, dau. of Col. Orison and Hannah (Maxim) Ripley of 
Paris. She was born Jan. 7, 1847. They had one child, Henry 
B. Maxim, b. July 17, 1868. For many years Mr. Maxim's fam- 
ily resided in Sumner. Some ten or more years ago they re- 
moved to South Paris. In the autumn of 1861 Mr. Maxim en- 
listed and was mustered Nov. 15th into the service of the U. S. 
in Co. G, I2th Regt., Me. Vol. Infy. in the War of the Rebellion. 
He was in the Siege of Port Hudson, La., and the battles of the 
Opequan or Winchester and Cedar Creek. In the former en- 
gagement he was wounded. He re-enlisted and was transferred 
to Co. A of the new organization and was discharged from the 
service Feb. 25, 1865. Mr. Maxim was a model soldier — faith- 
ful in the discharge of every duty and brave and cool under fire. 

Olban A. Maxim, son of Capt. Benjamin, b. Oct. 1842, m. 
Amanda M., dau. of Austin and Sarah (Powers) Partridge. She 
is a relative of the Powers family of Aroostook County. In the 
fall of 1 861 he enlisted in Capt. ]\Ioses M. Robinson's Co. G, 12th 
Maine Infantry, which went to the war in Gen. Benj. F. Butler's 
New Orleans expedition and served in the Department of the 
Gulf. After the war he married and settled on Paris Hill, where 
he now resides. For some 18 years he was a director of the 
Paris Mfg. Company, then located in that village and for three 
years was superintendent after the plant was moved to South 
Paris. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and Masonic 

orders. Children : 

Maynard, b. Jan. 4, 1875; m. Metalena, dau. of Dr. Enoch Adams of 
Litchfield, Me., in 1895. He graduated at Kent's Hill Seminary and for 
several years has been principal of the academy at Holyoke, Mass. They 
have two children: Metalena, b. Nov. 6, 1896 and Helen Lenora, b. Oct. 
16, 1899. 

Helen S., b. June 30, 1877; d. Jan. 5, 1889. 

Infant son b. May 24, 1881 ; d. June, 1881. 



(528 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Franklin Maxim, son of Capt. Benjamin, b. Jan. 4. 1847, '"'''• 
Flora E. Evans. He enlisted in the fall of 1864 in the 5th Maine 
Battery and served till the organization was mustered out July 
6, 1865. In 1877 he moved to South Paris where he has since 
resided. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster which position he 
held under Gen. Benjamin Harrison's administration. He was 
elected one of the board of selectmen in 1899 and has been an- 
nually re-elected to the present time ( 1903). He is a leading mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows and G. A. R. organizations and has held 
the principal offices. Children : 

Myrtic B., b. Buckfield, Dec. 24, 1876. She graduated at Bates College 
in class of '98. Taught 2 years in Mass., after graduating and was asst. 
high school instructor in South Paris for several years. 

Harry E., h. Nov. 17, 1882. He graduated at Shaw's Business College, 
Portland, and is now clerk in store at Portland. 

Nathan Maxim, son of Xathan, m. Sally Jordan. He died 

and she m. 2d Solomon Davie, 3d Abijah Lapham and 4th Samuel 

Bryant. Children : 

Sally, h. July 12, 1803 ; m. Smith. 

Lydio, h. Dec. 7, 1805 ; m. Delano. 

Annis, b. June 13, 1807. 

Eunice, m. ist Alfred Monk, Jr., 2d Josiah Weeks. 

Dorcas, b. ; m .Samuel Bailey. 

Nathan, Jr., b. about 1810; m. Arvilla Turner. 

Nathan Maxim, Jr., son of the preceding, b. Aug., 1810, m. 

Arvilla Turner. He died Dec. 19, 1899. She died Apr. 19, 1889, 

aged 80. 'Children : 

Adaline, b. 1836; m. C. C. Harlow. She d. Dec. 16. 1895. 
Nathan, b. 1838; m. Frances M. Dunham; s. in Paris. 
Charles, b. 1847; m. L. Annette Jordan. 
Rachel, h. 1849; m. Lincoln Sturtevant of Paris. 
Edivin, b. Apr. 16, 1853 ; m. Lola T. Record. 

Edwin Maxim, son of the preceding, b. Apr. 16, 1853, m, 

Lola T. Record. He lives in the village. She died Aug., 1914. 

Children : 

Sadie B., b. Turner, Sept. 29. 1873; m. Gilbert W. Tilton. 
Lena H., b. Turner, Aug. 3, 1875 ; m. Fred R. Dyer, Esq. 
Bessie May, b. Buckfield. Nov. 20, 1882 ; d. Feb. 6, 1893. 
Nellie, b. Dec. 11, 1888; d. in infancy. 

Charles ]\Iaxim, .son of Xathan, b. 1847, iii- L. An- 
nette Jordan. Children : 

Charles, b. in Turner; George, b. in Turner; Fvcd. b. in Buckfield, m. 
Bunipus; Pearl, b. in Buckfield. ni. Ina May Turner. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 629 

JMaviifav. 

W'rr.LiAM ^Faviikw and his wife, Joanna, were early settlers 
in the western part of the town. Children • 

Joanna, b. Nov. 22, 1781 ; Mary, h. Mar. 22, 1784: William, Jr., h. Xov. 
29, 1785, m. Anna Packard; Sarah, h. Alay i, 1788: Xatluuiicl. h. July 16, 
1790, m. Mehitable Farrar ; John. h. Dec. 15, 1792, m. Sylvia Lapham ; 
Rachel, b. Aug. 4, 1795. m. Cyprian Bowker. 

Nathaniel M whiav, son of the preceding-, b. July 16, 1790, 
m. Mehitable Farrar. Children: 
M datable, h. Feb. 14, 181 1. 
Deerini^, b. Dec. 4, 1812; ni. Polly Harlow. 
Alexander, h. Dec. 10, 1814 ; m. Mary Dean. 
Asia, h. Jan. 13, 1818; m. Hannah .\. Tucker. 
Sylz'ia Ann, b. Dec. 30, 1820; m. Benj. Jordan. 
Desire Ann, h. Jan. 31, 1825; ni. Thomas Rowe. 
Christina, h. Jan. 12. 1828. 

Deerixg Mavhew. son of the preceding, b. Dec. 4, 18 12, m. 
Polly Harlow. He d. Sept. 25, 1890. She d. Apr. i, 1898. 
Children : 

Cordelia, b. MaA- 27, 1841 : m. Charles Young, M. D. 

Ai4gustus, b. June 10, 1844; ni. ist Sarah Maxim, 2d Celinda Farris. 

Charles E., h. Aug. 31, 1848; m. Juliette E. Bicknell. 

Eiiuna F., b July 12, 1854. 

Ai-i;usTus IMa'i'Hew, son of the preceding, b. June 10, 1844, 
m. Sarah Maxim. She died and he m. 2d Celinda (Jordan ) Far- 
ris. Children by ist wife: 

Anna C, h. Dec. 29, 18(15: Lillian P.. b. Oct. 20. 1869. 

Alexander Mayhew. son of Nathaniel , ante, b. Dec. 10, 
1814, m. Mary Dean of Paris. He d. Jan. 8. 1885. Ch'ldren: 

Mary Ann, h. Apr. 24, 1837; .haininfa D., h. Oct. 26, 1839; F ranees 
M., b. Mar. 16, 1843; America F., b, Jan. 6, 1845; Sylvia E., b. Oct. 28. 
1848, d. Aug., 1865; Amanda, b. Sept. 9, 1850, d. .^ug., 1865: Flora E., b. 
Nov. 25, 1832: Asia C, h. July 3, 1854. 

John M.whew, son of William, Sen., b. Dec. 15, 1792, nL 
Sylvia Lapham. Children : 

Richmond, h. F'eb. 14. 1818: Syl-i'anns, Sylvia .Inn, Ahijah. 

Ml'.RKILL. 

The ancestral Inme of the .Merrills was in Place des Dombres. 
I'Vance, and the family name was DeMerle. They were Hug'ne- 
nots and tied to England about the time ')f the Massacre of St. 



I 



630 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Bartholomew in the sixteenth century. The Xew England Mer- 
rills are descended from Nathaniel, who came to Mass. in 1633 
and settled at Ipswich. The line of descent from him to Giles of 
the 6th generation, an early settler in Shepardsfield, now Hebron, 
is as follows: Daniel, b. 1642 at Newbury; Moses, b. 1683 at 
Salisbury; Moses, b. 1707; Ezekiel, b. Sept. 10, 1736, d. at 
Hebron, Jan. i, 1822; Giles, b. New Gloucester, Feb. i, 1762, m. 
1787 Judith Cotton, d. in Hebron, May 25, 1848. 

Giles Merrill, Jr., b. in Hebron, Aug. 15, 1790, was a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812. He m. in 1814, a dau. of Samuel Fogg 
and settled in the s. w. part of Buckfield. She d. in 1824 and he 
m. 2d Prudence Jordan of Buckfield, b. May 25, 1793. He died 
Nov. 10, 1851. She died Dec. 3, 1855. Both were mem. F. B. 
church, E. Hebron. Children : 

I. Charlotte, b. Feb. 8, 1815; m. Simeon Monk: s. in Mechanic Falls. 

II. Julia Ann. b. Alar. 27, 1817; d. Feb., 1897. 

III. Caroline, b. Oct. 10, 1820; m. Benjamin Dndle.v of Hebron. 

IV. Rachel, b. Nov. 6, 1822; m. Martin Turner. 

By second wife: 

V. Moses, b. Dec. 22, 1826; m. Ann Field and bad Orlando F., b. Sept., 
1849; Eliza P., b. Apr. 21, 1851, m. Henry A. Sturtevant ; Flora A., b. May 
5, 1856, d. Sept. 6, 1888 and Lorenzo P., b. July 4, 1866, m. Charlotte Howe; 
s. at Rumford FalLs. The father d. July 11, 1898; mother d. Aug. 6, 1886. 

VI. Thomas, b. Dec. 22. 1826; m. Jane Field and had Frederick, b. Oct. 
T850, d. i88t ; Frank P., b. Nov. i, 1852, First Chief Div. Maine, Sons of 
Veterans and First Commander in Chief of National Organization, same 
order. Very energetic and able young man. He learned the printer's 
trade and later was salesman for a Boston firm for about 30 years. He 
d. lamented by all who knew him July 8, 1909. Franccna, b. Oct. i, 1855, 
d. Jan. 1878; Freeman, b. 1857, d. Dec. 1877; Fesscndcn, b. 1859, d. 1863; 
Charles, b. 

VII. Hiram, b. June 7, 1828; m. Anna S. Jordan; s. in Hebron; no 
issue. 

VIII. Adoniram Jndson, b. Jan. 22,, 1833, m. Feb. 18, 1856, Sarah L. 
Cheslej^ b. Oct. 30, 1838. He obtained his education in the district schools 
at Hebron Academy and a Normal School. Mr. Merrill began very early 
to teach and was ve'-y successful in many towns and places all over the 
state. For 22 years he resided at Waltham, ]\Iass. He was a travelling 
salesman for nursery stock for several years in the West and three years 
was travelling agent for D. Appleton & Co. for school books. His wife 
d. several years ago and he re-married. His second wife died and he 
returned to Maine to live witli his oldest daughter in Hebron when about 
80 years old and was elected one of the selectmen of that town and served 
with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his townsmen as in every 




P_earl_hU%rrUi Se//e M^c/^huoTr ^rank WMernjl^ 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (583 

public position lie ever held. For his 35 years' service as an instructor of 
youth in tiiis state, Mr. Merrill lias been granted a teachers' pension. 
(He has recently (1915) married a lady by tlie name of Parker and re- 
sides at Islesboro.) 

Children all by 1 st wife and all b. in Buckficld": 

Addie Francis, b Mar. 27, 1857; m. Geo. O. Hatch. Apr. 13, 1885. 
She was educated at Hebron Academy and Waterville College. Taught 16 
terms of school. Resides in Hebron. 

Claribel, b. May 30, 1858; m. Sept. 16, 1884, John Hutchinson; edu- 
cated at Hebron Acadenn-, Colby Univ., Wellesley College and N. Y. Med. 
College, wont abroad to Europe in 1900. Has practiced medicine in 
Waltham, Mass., for 25 years. 

Preston J., b. Sept. 13, 1859; m. July, 1890, Caro Thomas. Graduated 
at Colby Univ. in '?-^ ; principal of High School. Randolph, X. Y., and 
Virginia City, Montana; manager of the Merrill Teachers' .Agency of 
Jjoston, Mass. 

Frank IV., h. Oct. 12, i85i ; ni. Nov.. 1895, .Martha Malvy : has taught 
school in Belgrade, Rome and Islesboro. 

Pearl IV., b. Sept. 16. 1866. He is located in Bo.ston where he is doing 
an extensive business in window shades and screens. 

IX. Eurydice, h. Apr. 14, 1835; m. Bradford F. Sturtevant in 1855; s. 
in Hebron. He d. Nov., 1899. Children: Henry B., b. Apr. 13. "56. m. 

Lucy Bowman; Rachel, h. ■ , ni. Fred Farris; Be ilia. b. , m. 

Arthur George ; Frank, b. , m. . 

X. Sarah Jane, b. Dec. 28. 1837 ; m. Winslow 'i'urncr : s. in .\uburn. 
He d. Mar. 11, 1899. Children: Herbert, b. Ma:-. 25. 1858: IVinslon', h. 
Feb. 20, 1862; F.i'.^c^ene, b. Xov. 5, 1865. 

MoXK. 

Ei.i.xs Monk, born in 1760, was a soldier in the Revolution 
from ^lass. and one of Washington's life .c'.iards.He settled in 
Hebron. His wife d. in icSo^) and he m. 2d Lou'sa Rawson of 
Paris. He d. Dec. 17. 1842. Children al! l)y ist wife: 

Lewis, h. Sept. 14, 1779; m. Martha Bessey. 
James, b. Dec. 12. 1782; m. .Mary Jordan. 
Martha, h. .Aug. 24. 1784: m. James Farris. Jr. 
Alfred, b. Sept. 8, 1786; m. Relief Irish. 
Rebecca, b. Sept. 7, 1788. 
Betty, b. .Apr. 4, 1701. 
Lovina B., b. Oct. 17, 1792. 
Millitiah, b. Oct. 28, 1794. 

Lewis Monk, son of Elias, m. Marth.a Bessey. He d. Aug. 
25. 1 86 1. Children : 

Rachel, b. Sept. 30, 1802; m. David Hannaford. 

Sarah, b. June i, i8'j6; m. ist W'ni. Blake. 2d Fred Denning. 



634 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Lczvis, b. June 22, 1808; m. ist Betsey Lane, 2d Eleanor Bucknam, 
3d Nancy Russell. 

Lucy, b. Mar. 11, i8og; m. ist. Jesse Cumniings. 2d Levi B. Rawson; d. 
Apr. 14, 1899. 

IVilliam, b. Oct. 29, 181 1; m. Wealthy Davie. 

Caroline, b. Feb. 8, 1815; ni. Wm. W. Bumpus. 

Mary, b. Sept. 11, 1821 ; m. Job Crooker. 

Alfred Monk, b. Sept. 8, 1786, m. Relief Irish and settled 
early in the last century in the southwest part of the town on a 
farm now owned by his grandson. He died July 7, 1875. She 
died Dec. 9, 1878, aged' 90. They had lived together 67 years 
and 7 mos. Children : 

John Irish, b. Oct. 22, 1809; ni. Mercy Hatch. 

Siuu'oii, b. June 15. 1811; m. Charlotte Merrill. 

Louisa, h. Xov. 25, 1813; m. Isaac Jordan. 

Alf ed, Jr., b. Oct. 25, 1815; m. Eunice Maxim. 

Relief, b. June 19. 1817; m. Elijah Jordan. 

Elias, b. Mar. 2%, 1819: m. Eliza Turner. 

Lysander W., b. Feb. 28, 1821 ; m. Betsey P. Turner. 

Harriet, b. Jan. 28, 1824; m. Charles Record of Poland. 

Sidney, b. Xov. 13. 1825; m. Sarah Robinson. 

Esther J., b. Dec. 13, 1827; ni. Enoch Crockett of Sumner. 

Leii, b. Oct. 26, 1828; m. Harriet Turner. 

Decatur, h. June 26, 1831 ; m. S^dvia H. Benson. 

Melissa Ann, b. Feb. 20, 1833; m. Decatur Turner. 

Isaac Jordan, b. Sept. 14, 1837; m. ist Florence Herrick, 2d Wing. 

Eltas Monk, son of the preceding, b. Mar. 28, 1819, m. 
Eliza Turner. He d. Aug. 10, 1892. She d. Sept. 22, 1886. 
Children : 

Rosilla, b. June 23, 1845; m. Benj. F. Heald. 
■ Emma A., b. Sept. 14, 1847; m. Appleton F. ^NTason. 

Rinaldo, b..Feb. 22, 1849: m. Florence A. Barnes. 

RiNALDO Monk, son of the preceding, b. Feb. 22, 1849, m. 
Florence A. Barnes. He d. Oct. 23. i8<)2. She m. 2d Fred E. 
Heald. Children : 

Holmau W.. b. Oct. 19, 1882: Josepliine B., h. Feb. 25, 18814. 

Lysander W. Monk, son of Alfred, b. Jan. 17, 1851, m. 
Betsey P. Turner. He d. Mar. 19, 1889. Children: 

Lez'i Turner, h. Jan. 10, 1848; ni. Estella Ames. 
Lysander E., b. Jan. 17, 1851 ; m. Reuvilla Ames. 
li'iushnc S , b. P>b. 9, 1857. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 635 

Lysander E. ]\Jonk. son of the preceding-, b. Ja. 17, 185 1, m. 
Reuvilla Ames. Children : 

Orah Belle, b. May 17, 1875; m. Montelle Turner. 
Lysaiidcr Isaac, b. Dec. 19, 187—; m. Mary Fuller. 

James Monk with wife. ]\Iar\- Jordan, settled in the town 
quite early in the last century. He was a bro. of Alfred, sen. 
Children : 

Joanna, b. Mar. 2^,. 1804; m. Jesse Packard. 

Elsie, b. Mar. 22,, 1804; m. Josiah Weeks. 

Mary, h. Alay 8, 1807 ; m. Samuel Sturtevant. 

James, Jr., m. and s. in Waterford. 

Elijah, m. Jackson. 

Eunice, m. Moses Twitchell. 

Samuel, b. Sept., 1816; d. Sept. 11, 1824. 

An'illa, b. June, 1823; m. John Cooper. 

Albion, m. and s. in Mass. 



}kl0RRII.L. 

Three brothers by the name of Morrill, John, X'athan and 
William settled in the town before 1825. They came from Tur- 
ner. The father's name was James who m. Anna , b. abt. 

1778. He was b. about 1769. He d. in Buckfield, after 1850. 
She d. after 1850. 

John jMorrill, son of James, was a blacksmith. He was b. 
about 1800. He m. Esther E. . Children: 

John James, b. Jan. 29, 1825; U'm. Sampson, h. Feb. 11, 1828; I^ercis, 
b. Apr. 21, 1830; Charles Jl'., b. Jan. 23, 1837. 

Nathan jNIgrrill, E.so., son of James, b. abt. 1804, m. 
Miriam Chase. He was one of Buckfield's most substantial 
business men. During the latter part of his life was considered 
to be the wealthiest man in town. He died Jan. 29, 1888 in the 
84th year of his age. Children : 

Horace, h. Oct. 3, 1832 ; m. Emily R. Farrar. 

Ellen, h. Dec. 14, 1833 ; m. Samuel Thomes. 

Isaac Chase, b. Nov. 14, 1838; m. ist Laura Witbington, 2(1 

Rogers. 

Horace AToRRirj., oldest son of the preceding, b. Oct. 3, 1832, 
m. Emily R. Farrar. He d. Apr. 16, 1893. Children: 
Lizzie Atzvood, b. July 2T,. 1858; ni. Frank \^-u^ghan. 
Alice M., b. Aug. 31. i860. 



()8(j HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Helen, 1). July 15. 186,^; 111. C^harlos Match. 
Ralph, b. Mar. 2,?, i^7,^\ ni. Maud Russell. 

Isaac C. AroRiuLi,. son of Nathan, b. No^^ 14, 1838, ni. Laura 
j. \\ithini.iton. She d. Sept. 14, 1872. Children: 

Zadoc l-0)iii. h. .Mar. _'3, i8()7; d. in infancy. 

/{irr/ Xi'.tlnvi. h. July 5, 1868; ni. Sarah Cronnnctt. 

/://(■;; i'rsula, h. Oct. 20, 1870; m. Joseph Emery; s. in Everett, Mass. 
(For several years after her graduation, Miss Morrill taught school at 
Norway with great success and was ven,' popular with all classes. Some 
years ago siie died deeply lamented hy all who ever knew her.) 

l*^, .\.\iii.\N AhiRRHJ.^ son of the precccHng, b. July 5, 1868, 
ni. Sarah Cromniett. He has been in trade many years and has 
served as ch;iinnan of tlie lioard of selectmen, a position he now 
(191 5) holds. 

William Morrill, son of James, b. about 181 1, m. Harriet 
Hodgdon. Children : 

Clarissa, b. Nov. 16, 1834. 

Carroll C, b. June 25. 1837; m. 

Mary, b. Sept. 22, 1839; m. Joseph F. DeCoster. 
JJ'illiain L., b. Oct. 31, 1841. 
Harriet F... b. Aug. 3, 1845. 

His wife died Apr. 20. 1847 and he m. 2d Matilda Lothrop. 
Children by second wife : 

Walter B., b. May 12, 1849. 

Addie B., b. Aug. 20, 1850. 

Emerline, b. Feb. 2, 1852. 

Roderick P., b. Nov. 14, 1854. 

Geo. B., b. Aug. 7, 1855. 

Flora B., b. July 25, 1857. 

Ada Atu'ood, b. May 7, 1859; d. Dec. 7, i8()L 

Liim'ood, b. Apr. 6, iSt\. 

Agnes F., h. Jan. 18, 1863. 

Gains A., b. June 24, 1866, 



Packard. 

The Packards of Buckfield are descended from Samuel Pack- 
ard, who with his family and servants came over to Mass. from 
Windham. Eng-land, in the ship Diligence in 1638 and settled in 
l^ridgewateV. 1 le was a man of ability and note and soon after 
coming to this coimtry. was licensed to keep an inn or piil)lic 
house. The name was originally pronounced Packer, and was 




Nathan Morrill 




Ellen Morrill Emery 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD G89 

quite conmion in the mother country. Persons by that name are 
mentioned in Pepys' Diary. He died about 1684, date of will. 
One of the ancestor's sons, Samuel, was also a man of note. He 
was appointed ensign in the militia. Me married Elizabeth, 
daughter of the first Mark Lothrop. His estate was settled in 
1698. His son, Joseph, married Alary, daughter of John Willis 
ni 1723. Their son, Joseph, born in 1725, married Sarah, dau. 
of Capt. D. Johnson in 1748 and settled in Bridgewater. He 
was a soldier under Gen. VVinslow. He lived several years in 
Buckfield. Died in Easton, very aged. Children all l)orn in 
Bridgewater. 

I. Daniel, b. 1749; m. Elizabeth Connelly; s. in Bucktown. 

II. Anna, b. 1751. 

III. Rev. Elijah, b. 1753. 

IV. Abigail, b. 1756; m. Jacob Whitman; s. in Bucktown. 

V. Bethiah, b. 1758; m. Simon Record; s. in Bucktown. 

VI. Martha, b. 1760; m. Joseph Lothrop; s. in Bucktown. 

VII. Dea. Job, b. 1761 ; m. Iiunice Babb (or Bray) ; s. in Bucktown. 

Daniel Packard (see biographical sketch) m. Elizabeth 
Connelly. He d. l^'eb. 27, 1835 in Woodstock. She had died 
several years before. Children : 

I. Daniel, b. Bridgewater. Mar. 3, 1774; d. in War of 1812. 

II. lilijah, b. Bridgewater. Nov. 29, 1777; m. Alileah Lothrop. 

III. Betsey, b. Hebron, May 29, 1781 ; m. Ohas. Crooker of Woodstock, 
IV. John, b. Buckfield, Oct. 15, 1783 ; killed in War of 1812. 

V. Abigail, b. Buckfield, Sept. 29, 1784; m. Caleb Bessie; s. in W. 

VI. Martha, b. Buckfield, Oct. 16, 1786; m. John Drake, Jr. 

VII. Stephen, b. Buckfield, Jan. 21, 1788; m. Eleanor M. Robinson; s. 
in Woodstock. 

VIII. Polly, b. Buckfield, Apr. 2, 1790. 

IX. Joseph, b. Buckfield, y\pr. 30, 1791 ; killed in War of 1812. 
X. Nancy, h. Buckfield, Feb. 11, 1793; m. Stephen Estes of Wood- 
stock. 

XI. Benjamin, b. Buckfield, Mar. 30, 1704; d. in 1816 from dis. con. in 
War of 1812. 

XII. Jesse, b. Buckfield, Feb. 11, 1798; m. Joanna Monk. 

Elijah Packard, son of Daniel, sen., b. Nov. 29, 1777, m. 
Mileah Lothrop. He died June 23, 1833. Children: 

Priscilla P., b. June 4, 1824; m. Andrews. 

Jacob Lothrop, b. Mar. i, 1826; m. 

Mary N., b. Feb. 28, 1829; m. — — Andrews. 
Roxanna, b. Sept. 24. 1832; d. Dec. 31, 1832. . 



640 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Stephen Packard, son of Daniel, b. Jan. 21, 1788, m. in 
1813 Eleanor ]\I. Robinson of Aronmoutli. He died in 1863. 
She m. 2d Stephen Estes. She died July, 1875. Qiildren: 

I. Henry H., b. Nov. 28, 1813 ; m. Abigail Cole. 

II. Joseph H., h. Apr. i, 1815; d. Apr. 15, 1829. 

III. Stephen, Jr., b. Apr. i, 1818; m. Louisa Peiiley. 

IV. Eleanor, b. Apr, 18, 1820; m. Lorenzo Davts. 

V. John R., b. Mar. 24, 1822; d. Apr. 15, 1820. 

VI. Frederick R., b. Dec. 17, 1823; d. Feb. 25, 1827. 
VII. Sarah H., b. Sept. 25, 1825; m. Aaron Ricker. 

VIII. Martha, b. June 2, 1827; m. Zebiilon R. Wright. 

IX. Joseph H., b. Aug. 11, 1831 ; d. Jan. 24, 1856. 

X. Ahbie R., h. Nov. 25, 1833 ; d. young. 

XI. Fred R., b. Nov. 17, 1834; s. in California. 

XII. John R., b. Nov. 17, 1834; d. Dec. 24, 1853. 

Stephen Packard, Jr., born in Wood.:;tock, Apr. i, 18 18, m. 
Louisa Penley and settled in Paris. He died in 1898. She died 
in 1907. The following tribute is from their son, Stephen G. 
Packard : 

Stephen Packard while yet a young man barkened to the call 
of the Gospel to walk with God's people. This choice had upon 
his life- as it may upon any life, a moulding power for good. 
For many years he was a member of the Baptist church. Self- 
educated, his mind was clear and strong, quick to grasp and com- 
prehend, was a school teacher while a young man ; afterwards a 
thoroughly good and successful farmer so that nature answered 
liberally to his toil. His oldest son, Joseph Penley Packard, was 
a volunteer soldier in the war of the Rebellion. A letter came 
that he was seriously ill with relapsed typhoid fever. Mr. Pack- 
ard at once started for the front, procured his son's discharge 
and brought him home in time to save his life. Stephen Pack- 
ard's life was one of hard labor. The best tribute a father can 
receive as he passes away from this world is children standing 
over a tear bedewed grave. This children's tribute to the mem- 
ory of an honored father Stephen Packard received as his mortal 
remains were laid at rest in the conetery at Xorth Paris. In 
manly strength and dignity he was ever the head of the family 
and their example in industry, energv and perseverance. He 
died at a good old age nearly the last ot a lion-like race. The 
age of the deceased was eighty years and four months. He 
lived to see his children's children to the third generation. 




m 




Oh 

S 
0) 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (J43 

Fourteen children, born to Stephen and Louisa B. Packard, 
grew up to have memories stored and enriched with all the recol- 
lections that cling" around the name of Ak)ther. Stories of a 
beautiful girl were heard by the large brood of boys and girls, 
who, in after years as a mother full well won her children's love 
and devotion. This woman came of good old English stock, 
days of the home loom, wool and flax spinning and weaving. 
Her father, Joseph Penley, was a soldier of the 1812 war. He 
was taken prisoner and held for some time and saw the brutality 
and cruelties incident to English prison ship life. His farm he 
took up from the wilderness in the days of the building of the 
Grand Trunk Railroad and made it one of the best farms in the 
town of Paris. This is now owned by the family of a grand- 
son, Charles R. Penley, himself now deceased. There are things 
of interest, lessons to be learned about any life, 'tis said: 
Some people put in a Garden of Eden will soon make of it a 
desert ; others placed in a desert will as soon make of it an Eden 
Garden. It is well to note the qualities that lead to these results. 
Whether we would or not we are here, ahead is 'the way, oppor- 
tunity leading on over the hills of heroic achievement to the city 
of success." The material for building grandly is all on the job. 
Shall it be the best, clean, strong and for eternity? 

The Penley family of children inherited from their sturd} 
sire not the waiting wish bone, but the backbone, go cpialities 
of character that generally make good." 

Children ; 

I. Joseph Penley. b. r^fay 2j, ]84i ; d. Oct. 17, 1867. A brilliant young 
man, a scholar and teacher of note. He was severely injured in a riot 
while attending the Norway Liberal Institute, probable cause of ultimate 
death. The following obituary notice from a local newspaper is appro- 
priately reproduced here : 

"It is the glory of our democratic country that its citizens are 
not dependent on ancestral fame and wealth, but may carve their 
own fortune and win for themselves renown. Our self-educated 
men have been the bone and sinew of our land and have arisen 
to fill its most important posts of honor and responsibility. We 
can ill afiford to spare such, yet the fell destroyer. Death, heeds 
not our necessities, nor our prayers. Joseph Penley Packard 
has thus passed out of our midst after a brief but not uneventful 
life. Possessing high aims and cherishing noble aspirations, we 



644 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

deemed him ambitious, but his ambition was never allowed to in- 
terfere with his conscientious adherence to right, irrespective of 
conse(inences. This sense of duty led him to heed his country's 
call in 1862 and he enlisted with our brave boys in the 23d Maine 
Regiment and went to share the hardships and exposure of army 
life, until he was prostrated with fever, and consigned to the 
hospital. Here he was found by his fat'ier, who obtained his 
discharge, and returned with him to a northern clime, where 
amid healthful breezes he regained his wonted vigor. The public 
are familiar with the details of the sad occurrence at Norway, 
April, 1864, when he was severely injured by a blow from a 
cowardly assailant, endangering reason, and even life, and from 
the effects of whicch he never fully recovered. 

Still, however, he prosecuted his studies, resolved to know 
no such word as failure in his chosen pathway of life. But 
while teaching High school at North Paris, he was suddenly 
attacked by that fatal scourge, diptheria, and in one short week 
sickened, died, and was buried. He died Oct. 17th at the age 
of 26 years. 

Thus has fallen in the vigor of early manhood one who had 
gained a large place, not only in the affections of his pupils, but 
in the esteem of the public. Parents, brothers, sisters and one 
dearer, and prospectively nearer than all, are deeply afflicted in 
their loss, yet can rejoice that he had not neglected to secure the 
Christian's hope, which sustained him in his terrible sufferings, 
and enabled him to record his dying request, that they would 
meet him in that better land. c. a. p." 

II. Mary Esther, b. Nov. 26, 1842; d. 1868: m. Charles Bean. 
III. Evelyn L., b. June 21, 1844; taught 70 terms of school; d. 1896. 

IV. EUcn L., b. Oct. 9. 1845; m. Mason Kimball. 

V. Stephen Greenlcaf, b. July i, 1847 in Woodstock. Twice married 
and has three children b}^ first wife, Harold C, Ivan R., and Mary Louisa 
(Broivn) and two grandchildren, Stephen Packard Broivn and Frank Ste- 
phen Packard. No children by 2d wife, Mrs. Lena M. Brown. Moved to 
Paris with parents when about 4 years old. He writes to the compiler of 
these statistics thus : 

"The memories of the home life on this splendid farm with 
its bountiful crops, apple orchards, wooded haunts, berry fields, 
the cattle, sheep and swine, the fine views from the buildings of 
valley and hill with old Streaked and Singepole in the distance — 
father and mother, brothers and sisters — my schoolmates are 




Stephen G. Packard 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (547 

with me still. 1 went from l\-iris to Elmira, X. Y., while yet a 
young man. IJonoht up quite a tract of land — now a desirable 
part of the city and have built and sold oil lots and houses. Have 
been eminently successful financially, hor many years have 
been identified with churcli and mission lal:)ors and was ordained 
as a preacher in this work." He is deeply religious, like his 
great-grandfather, the Revolutionar\- soldier and follows as near 
as may be in the footste])s of Ihll}- .^untlay, whom he has taken 
as his teacher and gaide in spiritual matters. 

VI. Dr. Francis Hcjiry, h. July 23, 184S; m. Iva M. Carter and has one 
son, Frank Carter and one daughter, Helen Maud. Educated in the high 
schools of Norway, Bethel, Paris Hill and Hebron Academy. Received 
'his degree of Doctor of Medicine at Bowdoin in 1878. Took post grad- 
uate course at the Univ. of X. Y. Finally settled in the successful prac- 
tice of his profession at West Paris where he now resides. 

VII. Rebecca Jane, b. June 12, 1850; m. Cofiin ; s. in Colo. 

Vin. Sarah Roscinciui. 1). Sept. 17, 1851 ; ni. A11)ert T. Houghtling of 
Philadelphia. 
IX. Eleanor L., b. Oct. 11, 1853; m. h'lbridge Lil)l)y. 
X. Abhic Betsey, b. Mar. 2^. 1855; m. Albert }vl. Burton of Corinna. 

XL Annie Maria, b. July 16, 1856; m. ist fiodwin, 2d Davis; 

s. in N. H. 
XII. James B., b. Jan. 28, 1859; m. ; s. in Monmouth. 

XIII. Achilles Hanno, h. Oct. 23, 1861 ; m. Ella Bean; s. in Bethel. 

XIV. Ida L., b. Aug. 29, 186.4; fl- 1892. 

Je.sse Packard, youngest son of Daniel, h Feb. 11, i7(>8, m. 

Joanna ]\Ionk. He died Jan. 22, 1877. Slie died Aug., 1879. 

Children : 

Benjamin, h. Aug. 21, 1822: d. Aug. 24, 1822. 

Daniel, b. July 21, 1823 ; d. Nov. 3. i860. 

Betsey, b. July 12, 1825 ; d. Nov., 1830. 

Jesse, Jr., b. Mar., 1827; m. Lizzie Smith. 

Elvira, h. Nov. 12, 1828; d. June 3, 1866. 

Benjamin, b. Feb. 6, 183 1 ; m. Sarah .\nn Cooper; s. in Berwick. 

John, b. Aug. 25, 1834; ni. Adelaide Bryant. 

Betsey, b. July 2$, 1837 ; m. Abel C. T. Whitman. 

James F.. b. July 25, 1839; m. Susan 'M. Basselt. 

Joanna, b. ^lay 10, 1840: m. ist Wm. Pratt, 2t\ Geo. H. Twitchell. 

•Jennette, b. 1842; m. Verrin DeCoster. 

Elsie E., b. 1844; m. Abel C. T. Whitman. 

Florence I., h. 1848; m. Hogensvvoll. 

" Carlton G., h. 1850; d. in 1852. 

Je.s.se, Jr., son of the preceding, b. Mar., 1827. m. t.izzie 
Smith. Children: 

IJz.zic P., h. Tulv 3, 1862: m. r>r\ant. 



648 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Carlton G., b. June 4, 1S64. 

George H., b. July 12, 1866; m. Clark. 

Albion E., h. May 6, 1868. 

Jesse IV., b. Dec. 6, 1870. 

Lillian I., b. Sept. 20, 1876; d. young. 

Infant, b. Nov. 28, 1877, d. Nov. 30, 1877. 

James F. Packard, son of Jesse, sen., b. July 25, 1838, m. 
Susan M. Bassett. He was a soldier in the Civil Waj. 
Children : 

Alvira J., h. Sept. 30, 1863, m. Charles F. Scammon ; Leonora, b. Aug. 
30, 1867; James E., b. Nov. 2, 1871. 

Dea. Job Packard, son of Joseph^, served in the Continental 
Army, settled in Bucktown in 1788 or before. He witnessed* 
the sig'nature to a deed made that year. He married Eunice 
Babb or Bray of Turner and settled in the south part of the 
town. He purchased land adjoining Daniel Packard's and 
Jacob Whitman's and afterward bougJit the settling- lot of his 
brother. He appears to have been a thrifty farmer. Was 
deacon of the church for many years. In after life he disposed 
of the most of his estate to his children, whom he liberally pro- 
vided for. His son, Moses, had the homestead. He died in 
1848. His wife died Apr. 6. 1833. Children: 

Job, b. July 20, 1787; died with measles at Burlington, Vt., in War 
of 1812. 

Moses, b. Buckfield Mar. 11, 1789; m. Betsey Robinson. 

John, b. Buckfield May 29, 1791 ; m. Susannah Davie; s. in Monson. 

Jonathan, b. Buckfield April 3, 1793; m. Susan Pote. 

Samuel, b. Buckfield Oct. i, 1795; m. Deborah Davie; s. in Hebron. 

Eunice, b. Buckfield Dec. i, 1797; m. Thomas Bray of Minot. 

Peggy, b. Buckfield May 18, 1800; m. Capt. Joseph Buckman. 

Betsey, b. Buckfield July 12, 1802. 

Susannah, b. Nov. 18, 1804. 

Thomas, b. Buckfield Jan. 14, 1807; m. ist, Mrs. Susan Packard; 2d, 
Almeda Whitman. 

INJosES Packard, son of Dea. Job, b. Mar. 11, 1789, m. Betsey 

Robmson. He died . She died Jan. 19, 1858. 

Children : 

Margaret, b. Nov. 23, 1814; m. Richard Young; s. in Hebron. 

Eliza, b. Jan. 23, 1816; m. Sewell Austin; s. in 111. 

Job, b. Apr. 26, 1817; m. Hadassah Austin; s. in 111. 

Sally, b. Jan. 12, 1819; d. unmarried. 

Jeremiah, b. Aug. 6, 1821 ; m. Rebecca B. Fuller; s. in Hebron. 

William, b. Jan. 14, 1823 ; m. Eveline Fuller. 







.,,0^mm,i 



F. H. Packard, M.D. 




cu 




cu 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (iJSl 

Atigelinc, h. June 3, 1824; m. W'm. W. I'oardman of Lowell. 
Harriet Ann, b. May 30, 1827 ; m. Lewis F. Sherburne of Oxford. 
Addison Gerr\-, b. May 30, 1827 ; m. Martha J. Folsoni. 
Betsey Jane, b. Feb. 7, 1829; m. Jacob M. Ellis; s. in Mass. 
Albina A., b. Dec. 20, 1832; d. July 22, 1837. 

-■Vddison G. Pack aru, son of the preceding', b. May 30, 1827, 
m. ^lartha J. Folsom. Chihlren : 

Warren L., b. Aug. 7, 185 1 ; d. Jan. 1867. 
Margaret E., b. Feb. 17, 1854; m. Geo. B. Record. 

JoHx Packard, son of Dea. Job, 1). ]\Liy 29, 1791, m. Susan- 
nah Davie. They settled in Monson. Children recorded here : 

Emcrline, b. Aug. 10, 1820. 
Belinda, b. April i, 1822. 

Jonathan Packard, son of Dea. Job, h. Apr. 3, 1793,. m. 
Susan Pote. He died May 12, 1829. She ni. 2d Thomas Pack- 
ard. Children : 

IViUiam F., b. July 31, 1823; s. in 111. 

Albion K., b. May 28, 1825 ; s. in Falmouth. 

Joseph, b. July 7, 1827 ; s. in Mass. 

Margaret E., b. May 26, 1829; m. and s. in Falmouth. 

Thomas Packard, youngest son of Dea. Job, b. Jan. 14, 1807, 
m. 1st Airs. Susan Packard. She died before 1832 and he m. 
2d Ahneda Whitman in 1836. Child by first wife: 

Thomas, b. ; s. in Oxford. 

Giildren by second wife: 

Ahneda Ann, h. Aug. 20, 1837 ; m. Sylvester Packard, s. in Monson. 
Catharine, h. Mar. 16, 1839 ; m. Adrian Packard, s. in Monson. 

He died before 1842 and she m. 2d Thomas DeCoster of 
Hebron. She died in Buckfield Nov. 15, 1894. 

Gen. Elipii.\li-:t Packard, second son of Matthew Packard, 
was born in Xorth Bridg:ewater, Mass., Jan. i, 1791. He was 
a descendant of Samuel', the emig-rant. The line of descent is 
as follows: Zacheus- m. Sarah Howard. David'^ b. 1687, m. 
Hannah .Ames. fCbenezer' b. 1724, m. Sarah Perkins and Alat- 
thew"' b. in Xorth i.ridg-ewater in 175^ m. Keziah I'erkins. 
ALattliew died in 1795. 

Eliphalet Packard m. Abig-ail Snell of West IJridgewater, 
June 26. 1814 and moved to Minot, Ale. About 1818 he settled 
in P)Uckfield. He apjiears to have built or purchased a house 



652 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

and shop on the Hartford road, on the north side of the river. 
In the autumn of that year he purchased of James Jewett, the 
land on which these buildings were situated. For many years, 
he carried on the business of a hatter in this shop. He lived in 
Buckfield about a dozen years and during that period he was 
chosen to various offices and for a number of years was trustee 
of the ministerial and school fund and served as clerk. His 
name was put into the jury box every time it was revised while 
he lived in Buckfield. One year he received a respectable vote 
for Representative to the Legislature and was chosen as a mem- 
ber of the committee to protest against the setting off of the 
Thayers into the town of Paris. He took great interest in mili- 
ary matters and rose from one ]:)Osition to another, till he was 
commissioned Brigadier (ieneral. He moved away from Buck- 
field in 1829 to West Auburn. Oct. 18, 1875 he died at Med- 
ford, Alass. Children recorded on Ikickfield records, the three 
youngest being born in Buckfield: 

Betsey H., b. Minot, Apr. 4, 1815. 
Charles, b. Oct. 14, 1818. 
Laura Ann, b. Apr. 7, 1822. 
EUphalct Franklin, b. Jan. 5, 1824. 



Parris. 

Capt. Josi.xh Parris (see biographical sketch), the first of 
the name to settle in Buckfield was a direct descendant in the 
male line from Thomas Parris of London, England, a merchant 
residing there early in the T7th century. This Thomas had a 
brother John, al.so a merchant and a planter of great wealth who 
deceased in Barbadoes in 1660 and who may have been the**Mr. 
Parish" mentioned in Winthrop's Journal Anno 1642. 

Rev. John Parris, son of Thomas, perhaps named for his 
uncle, John, was a dissenting clergyman of Ugborough near Ply- 
mouth, England. Thomas, son of Rev. John, came to America 
in 1683 from London and was at Newbury, Mass., in 1685 and 
removed to Pembroke in 1697, where he died in 1752. His wife 
was Abigail Rogers, a descendant of Rev. John Rogers, the 
martyr who was burned at the stake in Smitlifield on account of 
his religious convictions during the reign of Bloody Mary. 
Their son, Thomas, born at Pembroke, May 8, 1701. married in 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 658 

1724, Alary, daughter of Alatthew Gannett of Scituate. born Xov. 
28, 1702. He died Sept. 2, 1786. She died Aug. 4, 1770. Of 
their children, Benjamin, born Aug. 2y , 1731, married July 4, 
1753, Milliscent, daug'hter of Josiah J. audi Kuth ( Manlv ) Keith, 
born Feb. 7, 1731 at Easton. INIass. 

The grandfather of Josiah Keith was Rev. James Keith of 
Bridgewater, a Scotchman, who was educated at Aberdeen, Scot- 
land, and came to Mass, in 1662 when nearly 19 years old. He 
was ordained as the first minister in Bridgewater in 1664. It is 
said that his first sermon was delivered from a rock. His pas- 
torate lasted through life. He died in 17T9, aged 76. His first 
wife was Susanna, daughter of Dea. Samuel Edson. By her he 
had nine children. She died about 1705 and he married 2d Mrs. 
Mary Williams of Taunton. Josiah, the 6th son and child by 
1st wife, married in 1703, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Sarah 
(.Downer) Lothrop born 1683. The father of Samuel was Mark 
Lothrop, a brother of Rev. John Lothrop, who was pastor of 
the First Independent Church Society in London. He brought 
over the greater part of his flock and re-established his church 
at Scituate and later another at Barnstable. The Downer family 
coat of arms contained three peacocks with tails spread on the 
shield, and was one of the prettiest of devices in heraldry. 
Sarali Downer, the wife of Samuel Lothrop, who was a man of 
note and prominence was descended in the female line from 
Hannah X'incent, a beautiful French Huguenot who with her 
brother, a clergyman, fled to London from Paris to escape the 
Massacre of St. Bartholomew. 

Of the large family of Benjamin and Milliscent (Keith) Par- 
ris, Samuel b. in 1755, m. Sarah Pratt, a descendant of Matthew 
of Weymouth and settled in Hebron and was a Judge of the 
first Common Pleas Court in Oxford County. His son, Albion 
Keith Parris was the 2d Governor of Maine, Congressman, L". S, 
Senator and Judge of the Maine Supreme Court. 

Capt. Josiah Parris, a younger brother of Judge Samuel, b. 
Aug. 30, 1760, m. Experience Lowden of Bridgewater. Their 
children, all born at Buckfield, were Delphina Keith, b. Nov. 24, 
180T, d. Sept. 10, 1826. She was called the belle of the town; 
A'irgil D., b. Feb. 18, 1807, m. Miss Columliia Rawson of Paris 
Hill, b. Feb. 27, 1814. He d. June 13, 1874. His widow is still 
living in the T02d year of her age. (Her mother b. Sept. 17, 



654 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

1778, d. Aug. 29, 1875. Mother and daughter now span a period 
of 137 years.) Upon calUng at her home, June 15, 191 5, she 
gave the writer some information as to dates and events and 
mentioned ]\Iiss Cohimbia Gardner with whose family she and 
her husband were intimately acquainted. She spoke of Aliss 
Gardner's remarkable literary accomplishnients and expressed a 
wish to read her poems and alluded to her untimely death while 
residing in the South. She had noted she said every step from 
boyhood in the careers of Gov. John D. Long and Capt. Thos. 
S. Bridgham and thought they were the only two persons now 
ahve who were living in Bucklield village when she resided 
there. The name of Miss Ardelia H. Prince was suggested and 
she quickly replied : "She was living then on lier father's farm 
and not in the village." 

]\Irs. Parris read the daily paper:; and kept well informed on 
the general topics of the day. We don't believe her equal can 
be found. They had four children : 

I. Hon. Ed'a'ard Lozcdeu, h. Buckfield Sept. 3, 1837 ; m. Mary Ida 
DuBois, res. New York City. 

II. Virgil Kimball, b. Paris May 10, 1840; m. Mrs. Martha M. Arnold, 
res. Paris Hill. 

III. Helen DclpJiina, b. Paris April 20, 1844. 

IV. Percival Josiali, b. Portland Jan. 5, 1849. 

Percival J. Parris, the youngest son and child, attended 
Bowdoin College for three years and graduated at Union 
College, N. Y., the alma mater of his father, in 1871. Taught 
in Little Blue School, Farmington, 1871-2, principal of John- 
son H. S., N. Andover, Mass., 1872-5 ; editor Oxford Reg- 
ister, 1876; read law in office of Alvah Black, Esq., Paris Hill; 
graduated at Hamilton, N. Y., Law School and admitted to the 
Oxford County Bar in 1879 ; was in the practice of law in New 
York City from 1879 to 1890; a part of this time was editor of 
the New York Press, an evening paper. In i8(])0 went to What- 
com, now Bellingham, Washington, and was there three years. 
vSince 1892 has been located in Philadelphia, Penn., in the insur- 
ance business. He has never married. 

Parsons. 
Tiie .American ancestor of the large number of families which 
bear the name of Parsons was Jeffrey V. who was b. in England, 
about 1 63 1. He went to I'arbadoes in the West Indies and after 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 655 

some years' residence there came to Gloucester, Mass., in 1655. 
His wife was Sarah X'inson, whom he first saw, it is said, while 
stopping to get a drink of water from a fountain called N'inson's 
Spring, near her father's house. fhey have left a very numer- 
ous posterity. 

IdF.NRV Parsons, prohahl}- 4th in descent from jetfrev', m. 
.\nna ^'oung. Among his children were Joseph and proljahly 
Davis. Henr\-, Philemon, Patty and Rebekah. 

Joseph was born June 18, i/*/*. Ihe others were older. 
Dav's m. Sylvina Mall. Patty m. Uenjamin Cilley. ]'hilemon 
m. Polly Cole. Rebekah m. Henry P. Cox. 

Philemon was a Revolutionary s(ddier. He m. Poll}- Cole in 
i/*)^. We have no record of their children, or the date of their 
^.ieatlis. 

Hi:xKV Parsons, prolx son of llenr}- aiilc, m. ( )live . 

They settled in the .southeastern part of Buckfield. He died Jidy 
2J, 1804. She died Aug. 26, 1804. Children: 

Charles, b. June 2, 1799. 

Isaac b. Feb. 2, 1801 ; m. Phebe Aldricb of Falmouth. 

Anna, b. May 2, 1802. 

Henry b. July 2},, 1804. 

Ei.icAZER Parsons, ])rob. a bro. of Henry, sen., m. Judith 

. He served in the war of the Revolution. He died May 

22, 1844. aged 82' o years. She d-ed June 8, 1857, aged 95. 
Children : 

Hannah, b. Aug. 30, 1784; m. Thomas Dyer. 
Lucy, b. Apr. 10, 1786. 

Col. Aarun, b. June i, 1788; m. Eunice Warren. 
Sarah h. Feb. 12, 1794; m. Robinson Gammon. 

Col. Aaron T'a.rsons, son of the preceding, b. in linckfield, 
June I, 1788, m. Eunice Warren. He carried on business as a 
machinist in the village for many years. Was prominent in the 
militia and rose to the rank of colonel. He represented tlie town 
and district one term in the Legislature. .She d. I'eb. 24. 1886. 
Children : 

Jane Warren, b. Dec. 25, 1816. 

William Warren, b. Dec. 16, 1819; d. Dec. 11, 1833. 

Clarinda, b. Dec. 15, 1821 ; m. Dastine Spaulding. 

Charles, b. Jan. 18, 1824; s. in Mass. 

Eunice W., b. May 14, 1826; m. Lysandcr Bartlelt of Hartford. 

Maria Judith, b. July 29, 1829; m. Dr. Crosby. 



656 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Octavia, b. Jan. 26, 1832; d. Feb. 10, 1832. 

Frances Ellen, b. Mar. 22, 1839; m. Benjamin Spaulding. 

Col. Daniel Parsons, a son of Davis before mentioned was 
born in East Butterfield, now Hartford, Apr. 30, 1795. He mar- 
ried 1st Tucker, 2d Lydia Tobin. 3d Harriet (Emery) 

Ward. He was prominent in town affairs and served many 
years in the militia rising' to the rank of coloneL He d. in Hart- 
ford, May 20, 1876. Chil(h-en by ist wife: 

Cyrus, b. about 1816; s. in the West. 

AUneda, b. about 1818; m. Ephraim Bryant. 

Betsey, b. about 1820; m. Isaac Pulsifer. 

Mcrritt, b. about 1822; m. Letitia Carr; 2d, Hannah Moore. 

Daniel, b. about 1824; drowned while young. 

William, b. about 1826; died young. 

Addison, b. about 1828; m. Mary Webber. 

Child by Lydia Tobin : 

Lydia, h. about 1830; m. Henry Young. 

Children by Harriet A\'ard : 

Emery, b. about 1837 ; m. Victoria Allen ; 2d, Abbie Mitchell. 

Martha J., b. about 1839; m. Sylvester Bisbee. 

Harriet, b. about 1841 ; m. Silas Ryerson ; 2d, George H. Fuller. 

Henry, b. Oct. 22, 1843 ; m. Celia A. Russell. 

Sylvina, b. about 1845; died young at age of 18. 

Julia A., b. about 1847; died in infancy. 

^Ilrritt Parsons, Esq., born in Hartford, in 1822, m. 
Letitia Carr. He settled tirst in Hartford but came to Bucklield 
about 1885 where he has since resided. He has been prominent 
in town aft'airs for many years and in 1903 was chosen chairman 
of the selectmen. He was commissioned as Trial Justice, served 
as selectmen, town treasurer and school committee for many 
years in Hartford. His wife d. about 1870 and he married 2d 
Hannah Moore. Children all by ist wife: 

Ellen, b. about 1853 ; never married. 

Viola, b. ; m. Tyler. 

Olive J. 

Henry Parsons, brother of the preceding-, b. in Hartford, 
Oct. 22, 1843, "1- Celia A. Russell. In 1892 he came to Buck- 
field and purchased the Nathan Morrill farm where he has since 
resided. He has served as road commissioner and as a member 
of the board of selectmen, lie is one of lUickfield's most sub- 
stantial farmers and citizens. Children : 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 657 

Adclla, b. July 24, 1867 ; died in 1872. 

Addbcrt, b. Nov. 9, 1873 ; m. Emmie Moore. Children : 

Mildred Idella, b. Sept. 11, 1898, and Clifford Adelbert, b. Sept. 5, 1900. 

William Pearson of another branch of this family who have 
spelled the name as above, m. Susannah Walker and settled in 
the western part of the town. Children : 

William Oliver, b. Sept. 24, 1815. 
Susan W., b. June 28, 1818; m. John Dunham. 

Benj. F., h. Nov. 19, 1827; m. Susan J. . 

Augustus G., b. Feb. 5, 1834; rn. Elizabeth W. Bonney. 

Benjamin F. Pearson, son of the preceding-, b. Nov. 19, 
1827, m. Susan J. . Child: 

Hozi'ard C, h. June 4, 185 1. His wife died Jan. 16, 1855. 

AuGusri's G. Pearson, son of ^Villiam, ante, b. Feb. 5, 1834, 
m. Elizabeth W. Bonney. She d. Aug. 6, 1868. He d. Apr. 8, 
1900. Children: 

James Victor, h. Mar. 3, 1856. 

Euiily A., b. Sept. 10, 1858. 

Mary E., b. Apr. 18, 1861. 

Li::zic E., b. Dec. 18, 1863. 

PlIlLP.RICK. 

Jonathan Piiilijrick, a soldier in the French and Indian 
War settled in Bucktown before Jan. i, 1784. He m. Anna 

. He d. shortly after 1800. Tlie date of his wife's death 

is not recorded on the town records. Children recorded here : 

Elizabeth, b. May 24, 1764; m. James Thurlo. 
Dolly, b. July 6, 1767; m. Abial Drake. 
Dorcas, b. Nov. 6, 1770. 
Sarah, b. Oct. 13, 1773; m. John Bisbee. 
Enoch, b. May 11, 1775; m. Sarah Buck. 

C.\PT. Enoch Philrrick, son of the preceding, b. May 11, 
1775, m. Sarah Buck. He was town clerk and prominent in the 
atTairs of the town for many years. He d. about 1830. His 
wife died after 1850. Children: 

John, b. Oct. II, 1798. 

Abigail, b. Feb. 24, 1800; m. Thomas Record. 

Betsey, b. July 14, 1801 ; m. Robert P. Thompson, Boston. 

Offa, b. March i, 1803 ; d. Jan. 13, 1844. 

Sarah b. Oct. 24, 1804 ; m. Samuel B. Perry. 

Annis, b. Aug. 18, 1806. 



658 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Ximencs, b. May 25, 1808 ; m. Rachel Bartlett. 

Alhinns, b. Feb. 15, 1810; d. Ma}' 11, 1810. 

Levi, b. Jan. 9, 1813. 

Lucian, b. Oct. 11, 1814; m. Miriam Chase. 

Marshall, b. Nov. 24, 181 6. 

Dorcas, b. about 1818; m. Freeman Hathaway. 

XiMENES Philbrick, SOU of the preceding, b. May 25, 1808, 
ni. Rachel Ikirtlett. He was a prominent man in town affairs 
and served one term in the State Legislature. They s. in .\roos- 
took County, where he was killed by a falling tree. Children 

recorded on our records : 

Preston, b. Sept. 27,, 1833. 
Andrew J., b. Mar. 14, 1835. 
Enoch, b. Feb. 14, 1837. 
Sarah Viola, b. Feb. 16, 1839. 
Annis T., h. Apr. 28, 1843. 

Lucian Philbrick, brother of the preceding, b. Oct. 11, 
1814, m. Miriam Chase. Children: 

Elmira J., b. Sept. 3, 1842. 

Joseph Fairfield, h. Aug. 3, 1844. 

Marville Marks, h. Jan. 4, 1847; d. Oct. 13, 1849. 

Zeiias Shall.', h. Apr. 8, 1848. 

Ximenes, b. Oct. 31, 1849. 

Charles Pompilly, h. Mar., 1852. 

Rawson. 

The Rawsons of America are nearly all descended froiii Ed- 
ward Rawson, born in England, Apr. 16, 161 5. who came about 
1637 to Xewbnry in the Colony of Alassacliusetts llay, where he 
soon became prominent in official life and public affairs and was 
a representative to the General Court and secretary of the Colony 
for many years. He was son of David and Margaret (Wilson) 
Rawson and grandson of Edward Rawson, b. in England, 1604, 
and his wife, P)ridget Ward. I-ie was also grandson of Rev. 
Wm. Wilson of Merton College, Oxford, afterwards canon of 
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Chief Justice Salmon P. 
Chase and ex-Pre.*^. Wm. H. Taft are descendants. 

Edward Rawson, the emigrant ancestor, m. Rachel Perne. 
She d. before Apr. 11, 1677. He d. Aug. 27, 1693. The line of 
descent to Capt. Samuel Rawson of Paris Hill is as follows. 
William m. Ami Glover; Jared m. Mary Gulliver; Ebenezer m. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (j59 

Sarah Chase and Capt. Samuel m. I'olla I-'reeland. Their 
daughter, Cokunbia, ni. Hon. \'irp,il D. Parris. Mrs. Polla 
(Freeland) Rawson hved to be 97. 

Jennet A. Rawson of the seventh generation from Edward 
and :-on of Horace W. Rawson, was born in Paris, Dec. 18, 1846. 
He was educated in the district school and the Maine State Sem- 
inary, taught scliool several terms and learned the druggist busi- 
ness in Marlboro, Mass. He came to Buckfield in 1875 and pur- 
chased the stock of Albion D. Wilson in the Bennett store, where 
he has since remained in the apothecary business. He married, 
Xov. 15, 1876, Carrie J. Folsom of Stratford, N. H., born in that 
town Sept. 2, 1855. Has been successful in business for many 
years and is a substantial citizen. (He d. in 1915.) Child: 

Harly Fiskc, b. Feb. 6, 1879 ; m. Lila S., dau. of Cyrus C. Spaulding. 
Is employed in his father's drug store, is prominent as a baseball coach, 
having had seasons with Bowdoin, Colby and other institutions. 

Rfxcro. 

The Records of Buckfield are descended from an ancient Plv- 
mouth county, Mass. family. The name is variously spelled. 
Those settling here were of Bridgewater and Easton. Three of 
the four brothers saw service in the war for American Inde- 
pendence and they all came here in time to accpiire 100 acres of 
land free from the Commonwealth of ]\Iass. 

DoMixiCL'S Record (see sketch j, the oldest of the four 
brothers, who settled here, b. in Bridgewater about J 745, was 
the son of Ebenezer and Joanna (Bowles) Record. He was m. 
before coming here and had three chilch-en. She d. or was 
divorced and after coming here he m. 2d Jane Warren. Chil- 
dren l)y 1st wife : 

Orin, m. Susa ; settled in Sangerville. 

MarlJia, m. William Campbell ; settled in Sangerville. 
Clarissa, m. Daniel Morrill and d. before 1810. 

Children by 2d wife : 

Dominiais, Jr., h. June 26, 1788; m. Prudence S. Swallovv'. 

Jane, b. March 8, 1790; m. Samuel F. Brown. 

Samuel, b. Jan. 2, 1792; d. young. 

The father d. Feb. 4, 1810, aged 65. The mother d. June, 
1842, aged 84. 



660 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Orin Record, son of the preceding, b. about 1774, m. Susa 
. The family moved to Sangerville, Me. Children : 



Clarissa, b. March 24, 1799; m. Pelham Bryant. 

Emily, b. May 23, 1800. 

De Albra, b. Jan. 5, 1802. 

Harriet, b. May 26, 1803. 

Celia, b. May 16, 1807. 

Susan J ., b. May 14, 1810. 

Evcrline, b. Feb. 26, 1812. 

Mary Ann, b. Mar. 29, 1814. 

Samuel C, b. Dec. 20, 1815. 

DoMiNicus Record. Jr., half bro. of the preceding, b. June 
26, 1788, m. Prudence S. Swallow. He d. in 1862. She d. Dec, 
1887 at Turner in her 91st year. Children : 

Olivia, b. Feb. 21, 1820; d. Jan. 10, 1852. 

Ann Maria, b. Dec. 29, 1821 ; m. Lewis Briggs. 

Hannah, b. Mar. 24, 1823 ; d. July 6, 1838. 

Lydia, b. Apr. 30, 1825 ; m. Josiah W. Whitten. 

Martha C, h. Sept. 15, 1827; m. Clark C. Gregg, Bridgewater. 

Susan Jones, b. July 12, 1830. 

Emily, b. June 9, 1835. 

Jonathan Record, son of Ebenezer of Bridgewater, b. about 
1749, m. Remember Briggs of Bridgewater. She d. before 181 7 
and he m. 2d Abigail Cobb. He d. Jan. 17, 1855 in his 105th 
year. She d. Jan. 26, 1857, aged 91. Children all by ist wife: 

Jonathan, Jr., b. April 12, 1782; m. Phebe Irish. 
Timothy S., b. June 17, 1783; m. Abigail Lothrop. 
Sarah, b. Sept. 7, 1788; m. Calvin Whitman. 

Jonathan Record, Jr., son of the preceding, b. Apr. 12, 
1782, m. Phebe Irish. Children: 

David Briggs, b. July 3, 1805 ; m. Phebe S. Morton. 

Remember b. Oct. 9, 1806; m. Dominicus R. Warren. 

Margery, b. Jan. 8, 1809; m. Nehemiah Leavitt; s. in Penobscot Co. 

Selina, b. Dec. 28, 1810. 

Phebe, b. Mar. 29, 1813. 

William, b. May 24, 1815; m. Mary- J. Spaulding. 

Mary Ann, b. July 10, 1817. 

Jonathan G., b. March i, 1819. 

Dexter, b. Feb. 9, 1821. 

Orpheus, b. Mar. 11, 1823. 

Dorcas Jane, b. Aug. 15, 1825; d. May 25, 185 — . 

Thomas Florian, b. Dec. 2, 1827; m. Vesta A. Pettingill. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD G61 

Timothy S. Ri'Xord, son of Jonathan, sen., b. Juno 17, 1783, 
m. Abigail Lothrop. He d. ]\Iay 18, 1873. Children: 
Lavina, b. Tune 28, 1808; m. Asa Taylor. 
Albert H., b. Tan. 20, 1810; d. past middle life, unm. 
Arvilla, h. Mar. 7, 1812; m. William Jordan. 
Drusilla, b. Mar. 7, 1812; -m.. William L. Taylor. 
Patty, b. Feb. 16, 1814; d. Feb. 16, 1816. 
Martha, b. Feb. 16, 1814; m. Ixotheus B. W'aite. 
Patty, b. Mar. i, 1817. 

Stephen L., b. July 6, 1819; d. Jan. 14, 1877. 
Abigail, b. Nov. 22, 1821 ; m. John Mayhew. 
Emery T., h. Sept. 8, 1828; m. Comfort C. Smith; s. in Paris. 

David Record, son of Ebenezer of Bridgewater, b. about 
1749, m. Abigail Damon of Pembroke. He d. Mar. 20, 1832, 
aged ^2,- ^lie d. Feb. 15, 1845, aged 86. Children: 

Abigail, b. July 20, 1782; m. Daniel Chase. 

David, Jr., b. Mar. 31, 1784; m. Fanny Richardson. 

Ezekiel, b. Feb. 22, 1786, m. Almira Milliken. 

Lei^'is, b. Alar. 28, 1788; m. Sally T. Pompilly. 

Thomas, b. Apr. 14, 1791 ; m. Abigail Philbrick. 

Mercy, b. June 5, 1793. 

Deborah, b. Sept. 17, 1796; m. Seth Sampson, Esq. 

D.wiD Record, Jr., son of the preceding, b. Mar. 31, 1784, 
m. Fanny Richardson. He d. in 1859. She d. Feb. 22, 1856. 
Children : 

Mercy Richardson, b. Mar. 24, 1810; d. in 1867. 

Vesta C, b. Feb. 18, 1812; d. in 1895. 

Abigail, b. Feb. 2, 1814; m. Nathaniel Foster, Jr. 

Jennette, b. May 28, 1816; d. Aug. i, 1816. 

Thomas Loring, b. Nov. 19, 1818; d. June 14, 1845. 

Almon, b. Jan. 6, 1822; m. Eliza J. Washburn. 

Angeline Chase, h. June 18, 1824 ; m. Alvin R. Parlin, Sumner. 

David A., h. Aug. 20, 1830; m. Fanny Young. 

Almox Record, son of the preceding, b. Jan. 6, 1822, m. 
Eliza J. Washburn. He d. Jan. 7, 1889. She d. Jan. 28, 1897. 
Children : 

Roscoc L., b. Jan. 25, 1852 ; m. Viola Jordan. 

Clara E., h. Jan. 20, 1856; m. Frank Haskell. 

Hattic R., b. June 6, 1858; m. John Davis. 

Herbert A., b. Aug. 20, 1861 ; m. Jennie S. Hodsdon. 

Mertie I., b. June 6, 1869. 

David A. Record, youngest son of David Record, Jr., m. 
Fanny Young, b. Hartford in 1835. ^^ ^- i^ Mass., Nov. 27, 
1898.' Children: 



1 



662 HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 

William A.,h. Aug. 9, 1858. 

Ernest A., b. Apr. 24, 1861 ; d. Oct. 16, 1879. 

Llewellyn R., b. Mar. 11, 1865. 

Caroline B., b. Aug. 3, 1868. 

EzEKiHiL Ri-:coRD, SOU of David, sen., b. Feb. 22, 178^^ m. Al- 
mira Alilliken. He d. May 17, 1881. She d. Aug. 11, 1877. 
Children : 

Ezekiel C, b. May 2, 1814; m. Miriam Irish. 

Dana M., b. Nov. 15, 1815; m. Lucy H. Reed. 

Viraenne, b. Aug. 26, 1817 ; m. Samuel Reed. 

Benj. Harrison, b. Nov. 20, 1818 ; m. Phebe R. Irish. 

Samuel, h. Sept. 18, 1820; m. Maria Manning. 

Dorcas Jane, b. May 18, 1822 ; m. William Chick. 

Jcnncttc, b. Mar. 6, 1824; m. Dr. John R. Lord of Orono. 

Amanda, b. July 19, 1825; m. Silas Shaw. 

Clark, b. May 18, 1827; m. Henrietta M. Bunker; d. July 25, 1892. 

Susan, b. July 27, 1828; m. Addison Shaw. 

Mary, b. May 8, 1830 ; m. Francis E. Spaulding. 

David, h. Feb. 9, 1833 ; m. Mary Record. 

Jonathan, h. Dec. 13, 1834; m. Susie ; s. in Mass. 

Benjamin Harrison Record, son of the preceding", b. Nov. 
20, 1818, m. Phebe R. Irish. He d. May 13, 1883. She d. Apr. 
19, 1866. Children : 

Sylvia A., b. Aug. 8, 1849; d. May 29, 1866. 

Herbert IV., h. Aug. 6, 1853; m. Abbie Fogg; s. in Paris. 

William H., b. May 18, 1855 ; m. Ella M. Record. 

Cora R., b. Feb. 26, 1859; m. Ellis Whitman. 

Flora M., b. Feb. 26, 1859; resides at Mechanic Falls; unm. 

Lewis Record, son of David, sen., b. Alar. 28, 1788. m. Sarah 
T. Pompilly. He d. about 1863. She d. in 1830. Children: 

Sarah, b. July 9, 1824; m. Calvin Robbins. 

Lezk'is, Jr., h. Aug. 11, 1827. 

Morris, b. Apr. 29, 1830; m. Lothrop and s. in the West. His 

wife died and he m. 2d, in 1832, Phebe Spaulding. Children : 

Melissa, b. July 23, 1833, d. July 5, 1850; Lucius, b. Feb. 4, 1835, 
never married ; Mary, b. July 6, 1837, m. David Record ; Charlotte, b. 
May 26, 1839, m. Cyrus Snell ; Aurclia, b. July 30, 1841, m. Solon Tuttle ; 
Sophronia, b. Oct. 5, 1843, m. Moses Brown; Fostina, b. Feb. 13, 1846, m. 
Sanford Conant ; Benjamin S., h. Dec. 18, 1848; George W., b. May 24, 
1851, m. Annie V. Merrill. 

Thomas Record, youngest son of David, sen., b. Apr. 14, 
1791, m. Abigail Philbrick. Children: 

Otis Franklin, b. Feb. 9, 1822; m. Deliverance D. Damon. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 6()3 

Auiiis P., h. Aug. 12, T827; m. Hubbard Lowell. 
Betsey, h. Aug. 17, 1829; m. R. B. Jennings. 
Lucy, h. Sept. 4, 1833 ; m. Cyrus Cbase. 
Jflliii P., h. July 29, 1837; m. Adelaide Cole. 
George B., h. Apr. 7, 1840, m. Margaret E. Packard. 

John P. Record, son of the preceding, b. July 29. 1837. m. 
Adelaide Cole. Children : 

Louisa M., b. Oct. 11, 1863. 

Thomas, b. Aug. 4, 1866. 

George B., b. Sept. 20, 1869. 

Abigail, b. Feb. 18, 1874; m. Walter M. Briggs. 

Carrie C, b. June 15, 1880. 

John P., b. Apr. 20, 1887. 

George B. Record, bro. of the preceding-, b. Apr. 7. 1840, m. 
!Margaret E. Packard. Children : 

Ella M., b. June 19, 1871, m. William H. Record. 
Warren L., b. Apr. 2^, 1876. 
Addison C. b. Mar. 8, 1877. 
Joseph C, h. abt. 1879. 

Simon Record b. about 175O, m. Bethiah Packard, b. 1758. 
She d. June 8, 1829. aged 71 years. He d. Oct. 5, 1843, aged Sy. 
Children : 

Cynthia, b. Aug. 20, 1779; m. Clark Young. 
Simeon, h. May 15, 1781 ; m. Eliza Strout. 
Bethiah, h. July 20, 1783; m. Steplien Spaulding. 
Joanna, b. Apr. 3, 1786; m. Eliphalet Noyes. 
Ehenezer, b. May 18, 1788; m. Nancy Manley. 
Charles, b. May 18, 1788; m. Sally Noyes. 
Cyrus, b. Sept. 19, 1790; m. Arvilla Spaulding. 
Simon, Jr., b. Dec. 19, 1792; m. Catbarine Fernald. 

Ebenezer Record, son of Simon, b. May 18. 1788, m. Nancy 
Manley. He d. abf)in 1871. She d. about 1885. Cliikh-en : 

Diantha. b. July 3, 1824; m. Cbarlcs Hutchinson. 
Delphina, b. Jan. 13, 1828; m. Jonathan Damon. 
Diana, b. June 6, 1831 ; died young. 

Alonzo A'., b. Feb. 11, 1833; m. ist, Lara Lowell; 2d, Mrs. Davie; d. 
Nov. 17, 1895. 

Loren::o, h. Sept. 13, 1837; m. and s. in Pembroke. 

C"i!.\Ki.i:> Pi.coKi), I)ro. of the ])rcceding, h May 18, 1788, m. 

Sarali .\oyes. CJiiUh-en: 

Cyrus B., Clara, John, Columbus, Charles, lilbridge, lUnatlum, b. 
182s ; s. in Minot. 



664 HISTORY OF BUCKFfELD 

Cyrus Record, son of Simon, sen., b. Sept. 19, 1790, m. Ar- 
villa Spaulding. He d. Dec. 12, 187(3. She d. at [Mechanic Falls 
in August, 1896. Children: 

Asa S., b. Nov. 2, 1820; m. Sarah Bartlett. 

Mary L., b. Mar., 1822; d. Nov. 13, 1828. 

Angelia, b. May 26, 1825 ; m. David L. Farrar. 

Fostina S. h. May 26, 1825 ; m. Jason Mitchell. 

Abel A., b. May 11, 1828; m. Harriet Woodman and s. in Brunswick. 

Bennett B., b. Aug. 24, 1834; m. Lucy A. Cushman. 

Julius A., b. Jan. 7, 1844; m. Hannah C. Marston. 

Julia A., h. Jan. 7, 1844; ■"■ Zadoc A. Buck. 

As.v S. Record, son of the preceding, b. Nov. 2, 1820, m. 
Sarah Bartlett. He d. Nov. 23, 1876. She d. in 1901. Chil- 
dren : 

Phcbc Z., b. Sept. 19, 1842; d. Feb. 3, 1844. 

Edgar T., b. Oct. 8, 1843 ; m. Mittie A. Foster. 

Martha M., b. June 20, 1846 ; m. Pearl Swallow. 

IVilliam Cliasc, b. Sept. 2, 1848; m. JuHa Smith; s. in Poland. 

Frederick F., b. June 9, 1856; died young. 

Edgar T. Record, son of the preceding, b. Oct. 8, 1843, m. 
]\littie A. Foster. Settled at So. Paris. He was a soldier in the 
Civil War. Child: 

Cora, b. Sept. 15, 1870; m. John E. Everett; (she was killed with 
joungest child by R. R. train running into auto while crossmg track in 
summer of 1915) ; 3 c. : Marion, b. March, 1893; Lcita C, b. May, 1898, 
and Iva, b. Jan. i, 1903. 

Bennett !>. Record, son of Cyrus, b. Aug. 24. 1834, m. Lucy 
A. Cushman. Children : 

Arvilla E., h. Oct. 2^, 1855 ; m. Newell Estey of Boston. 
Lizzie F., b. Apr. 14, 1864; m. and set. in Mass. 
Anna B., h. June 27, 1865; m. Wm. Pitt Putnam of Waterville. 
Charles, h. Sept. 30, 1867; m. Frances Walter of Portand. 

JuLiu.s A. Record, bro. of the {:)receding. b. Jan. 7, 1844, m. 
]\Irs. Hannah ( l>uck ) ]\[arston. They reside at South Paris. 
Children : 

Chester, b. Maj- 21, 1866; ni. Eva Howard; s. in Portland. 
Roscoe, b. Mar. 24, 1868; died young. 

Angelia, b. July 13, 1870; m. ist, Thos. Keough; 2d, Charles Ed- 
munds. 

James S., h. Nov. 11. 1876; m. Emma Wheeler; s. at South Paris. 
Amy A., b. Sept. 11, 1878. 
Augustus J., 1). June 26, 1881. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 665 

SiMOx Recokd, Jr.. son of Simon, sen., b. Dec. 19, 1792. ni. 
Catharine Fernakl. Children : 

Freeman, h. Apr. 19, 1818. 

Stephen, b. Nov. i, 1819; d. Sept., 1844. 

Samuel, b. Jan. i, 1822. 

William, b. Dec. 17, 1823; m. Harriet Mitchell. 

Levi, b. Aug. 13, 1825 ; m. Lydia Ludden ; s. at So. Paris. 

Pliilo, h. Mar. 5, 1829; d. unm. Apr. 5, 1886. 

Henry, b. May 21, 1831 ; d. June 23, 1862. 

Elica Ann, b. Feb. 2, 1833. 

W'ir.LiAM RixoRi). son if the i)rece(ling', b. Dec. 17, 1823, m. 

Harriet ^^litchell. Children: 

Lola /v., b. July 12, 1856; m. Edwin Maxim. 
Chas. A., b.July 8, 1859; m- Ruth A. Thomes. 
William, Jr., b. Aug. 26, 1861 ; m. Dora Cobb. 
Eugene, h. Sept. 6, 1863; m. Arvilla Jordan. 

Geo. H., b. Aug. 20, 1866; m. Jordan. 

Jennie A., b. Aug. 8, 1870. 
Vernie, b. Dec. 20, 1874. 
. Harry A., b. Oct. 21, 1879. 

Chari.e.s a. Ri-.coRn son of the preceding-, b. July 8, 1859, m. 
Ruth A. Thomes. Child : 

Lottie J., b. Aug. 24, 1866. 

Eugene Record, bro. of the preceding-, b. Sept. 6, 1863. m. 
Arvilla Jordan. Child : 

Maud E., b. Feb. 17, 1890; m. Oscar Casey. 

Richardson. 

John Richardson, the first of ihe name we have any record 
of in Buckfield. was descended from Samuel, who came from 
England with two brothers and settled at Woburn, Mass., about 
1630. SamueP was born about i6!o. The line of descent is 
given as follows: Samuel, Joseph. Stephen. Adam, Stephen. 

John Richardson, son of Stephen, m. Lydia Crooker and 
settled in Ihickfield, but after residing here a number of years, 
he moved to Turner where he passed the reuiaindcr of liis days. 
Children recorded on our records: 

Abigail, b. July 16, 1797. 

Polly, h. Nov. 18, 1799; m. Jotham Roberts. 

Benjamin, b. Apr. 13, 1802. 

Ruth, b. Aug. 26, 1805 ; m. Jabez Pratt. 

Lyman, b. Nov. 19, 1807 ; m. Mercy Buck. 

John and Giles. 



6G(j HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

I\icki-:k. 
Tobias 1\ic!<i;r. b. May 12, \J(^. was tlie first of tlie name 
to settle in l'>.ickfiel(l. lie was a Revolutionary soldier and 
came licre from lierwick. Me., before 1790. His wife's name 
was Abii^ail Warren. He d. Dec. 20, 1847. Cbildren : 

Eleanor. 1). Mar. 23, 1783; d. Mar. ly, 1794. 
./()/;//, 1). Fcl). -'7, 1787; m. Charlotte Hayward. 

Tobias, Jr., h. Mar. 15, 178Q; m. Sally Berry; jd, Keziali Jackson, 
3d, Abigail Ellis. 

Abigail, h. Nov. 22, 1791 ; m. Ohadiah Bern*-. 

EpJiraim, b. Jan. 29, 1794; m. Margaret Swett. 

Isaiah, h. Alay 15, 1796; m. Hannah Mason. 

Charlotte, b. Nov. 15, 179S; m. Daniel Hutchinson; 2d, Levi Berry. 

Anarcie. b. Mar. 17, 1802. 

Nancy, b. July 4, 1804; m. Edmund Irish. 

Lysandcr. b. Aug. 28, 1S07; m. Cordelia Cushman. 

Tor.i.\s RuKKK. Jr., son of the ]irece<liiiQ-. b. Mar. 15, 1789, 
m. Sally Berry. She d. and he m. 2d Keziah Jackson, 3d Abi- 
gail Ellis. He d. in Illinois, June 2, 1868. Children: 

Danville A., b. Sept. 9, 1813; m. Lucinda Mason. 

By second wife : 

Sarah Ann, b. Mar. 10, 1823; m. James S. Benson; 2d, Thomas 
Benson. 

Flora Jane. h. Jan. i, 1827; m. W'm. F. Berry. 

Algernon O.. b. Nov. 28, 1833; m. Julia M. Ricker. 

Cyrus S.. b. Apr. 26, i83(); m. Lizzie H- 15arrelle. 

Ephr.mm Rickkr, bro. df the precetlin^. b. Jan. 29, 1704. ni. 

]\larii-arct Swett. He d. ( )ct. 23. 1875. She d. . Children: 

Horace, b. Jan. 17, i8u). 

Ephraini. Jr., b. ; m. Sarah Prince. 

IsAiAii .Rkki:k, ])ro. of the prccediu^.^", b. May 13, 170''. ni. 

Hannah Mason. Children : 

Elesfia Abigail, b. Apr. 20, 1828. 
Amanda Malvina. b. Nov. 4. 1830. 
Silas Mason, b. Aug. 30, 1832. 
Miles Mason, b. Oct. 12, 1834. 

Ri'.w (ii'iouoK Rk'k1':r, a IJaptisr iireacher, b. Dec. 14. 1771, 
I'ro. of Tobias, sen, m. Dorcas Phill)ri'.-k. He d. in .Vubr.rn. 
Me., in 1854. e hildren : 

Hiram, b. June (), 170^; m. ; s. in Auburn. 

Elniira, b. Feb. 2, 1801 ; m. David W. Swett. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 667 

Sarah, b. June 5, 1802 ; m. Keith. 

George, Jr., h. Jan .15, 1804; m. . 

Delana, b. Oct. 5, 1805 ; died young. 

Luten, b. Sept. 25, 1807; settled in the West. 

Jones, b. Feb. 20, 1812; went to sea and was drowned first niyht out. 



Rider. 

Capt; John Riper, a Revolutionary soldier, who settled in 

the township before 1800, m. Ruth . He was from J'ly- 

mouth County, Alass. \W' liave no record when they died. 
Children : 

John, Jr., h. May 7, 1789. 
Lucy, b. Sept. 7, 1792. 
Elizabeth, b. Oct. 16, 1794. 
Laura, b. Dec. 22, 1796. 
George, b. Aug. 3, 1799. 

Samuel Rider, prob. a bro. of John, sen., m. Abigail . 

No mention is made of their deaths on our records. Cliildren : 



Enoch Frost b. Mar. 29, 1803. 
Bela Morse, b. Jan. 24, 1805. 
PoUy, b. May 21, 1808. 



Roberts. 

Joseph Roberts was probably a descendant of Thomas Rob- 
erts and his wife, Rebecca, who came from Eni^land in 1633 and 
settled in Dover, X. H., where or in the vicinity of which Jose]:)h 
was born about 1727. He m. Hannah Young". They settled in 
\\'indham. In July, 1778, he exchanged farms with Theo])hilas 
Bradbury of Pearson.stown (Standish). In August, 1787, he 
sold his farm in Standish for i8o£ to Peter White of Bucktown, 
who went there to live and ajtpears to have passed the remainder 
of his dciys there. In June, 1705, Peter White sold his settling 
lot in Buckfield for £200 to Jonathan Roberts, Jr. 

Joseph Roberts appears to have come to Bucktown soon after 
selling his place to I'eter White. He was here with his family 
when the census was taken in 1790 and also in 1800. In March, 
1803. he purchased one-half of the settling lot of Jonathan Rob- 
erts near Federal Corner. In 1804 he was living in Washington 
PI., now Brooks. 



668 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

The tracrtion is that he died in Buclcfield about 1805. His 
wife died at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Irish, about 
1815. 

Joseph Roberts was a patriot, a worthy man and a good cit- 
izen. He is said to have served awhile in the War for Inde- 
{■■endence. Children: 

Joseph, Jr., b. Feb. 6, 1756; m. Esther Hamlin; 2d, Margaret Hall. 
Hannah, b. abt. 1762; m. James Jordan, Jr.; s. in B. 
Sarah, h. Windham, 1764; m. Jotham Shaw; s. in B. 
Jonathan, 2d, b. abt. 1766; m. Prudence Willard. 

Elizabeth, b. , 1769; m. Thomas Irish; s. in B. 

Mary, b. , 1773; m. Richard Taylor; s. in B. 

John, b. , 1777; m. Miriam Irish; s. in O. 

Joseph Roberts, Jr. (see sketch^, b. Feb. 6, 1756, m. Esther 
Hamlin, b. June 30, 1758, one of the first 47 settlers in Bucktown. 
First settler in Washington PL, now Brooks, Me., where he d. 
Jan. 10, 1843. His wife d. in Buckfield, Feb. 21, 1801 and he m. 
2d Mrs. Margaret Forbes, widow of Zadoc Forbes, daughter of 
Hatevil an Ruth (Winslow) Hall. He was the father of 24 
children — T2 by eacli wife. Nearly all of them lived to raise up 
families of their own. All of this family settled in Eastern Me. 
Children by 1st wife, all but two first probably b. in Buckfield: 

Hannah, b. Feb. 20, 1778; m. 1799, John Young; 10 c. ; d. in 1844. 

Tahitha, b. Jan. 11, 1780; m. 1799, James Roberts; 4 ch. ; d. in 1868. 
She killed a British soldier with a pitchfork while he was attempting to 
carrj' off her last cow. 

Sarah, b. May 6, 1782; m. Shadrack Hall; 10 c. ; d. in 1859. 

Isaac, b. May 10, 1784; m. ist, Abigail Merrill; 2d, Sarah Cobb; 9 
ch. ; d. in 1862. 

Dr. Jacob, b. May 10, 1784; m. ist, Huldah Alyrick; 2d, Abby Jenkins; 

11 c. ; d. in 1856. 

Elizabeth, b. Feb. 2, 1786; m. John Cates ; 9 c. ; d. in 1832. 

Gilnian, h. Oct. 28, 1788; m. ist, Ann Leathers; 2d, Susan Bachelder; 

12 c. ; d. in 1877. 

Enoch, b. Mar. 27, 1791 ; m. 1st Eleanor Leathers; 2d, Eliza Aborn ; 
II c. ; d. in 1855. 

Infant, b. 1793; d. 1793. 

Esther, b. Mar. 20, 1795; m. Daniel Hamilton; 13 c. ; d. in 1877. 

Lovina, h. Aug. , 1797; m. Levi Bowen ; 12 c. ; d. in 1836. 

Joseph, b. Nov. 2, 1799; m. Lydia Knight; 3 c. ; d. in 1885. 
Children by 2d wife, all but first born in Brooks: 

Nathan, h. Feb. 5, 1802 ; died young. 

Bcnj., b. Feb. — , 1804; m. Nancy Cilley ; S ch. ; d. in Rebel Prison in 
1864. 







Barnabas M. Roberts Hamlin M. Roberts 

Dr. Jacob Roberts 

Capt. Cassius C. Roberts Amorena Roberts Grant 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 671 

John, h. Jan. — , 1806; m. Harriet Jackson; 8 c.; d. in Minn, in 1886. 

Alfred, Jr., h. Oct. 21, 1807; m. ist Caroline Davis; _'d, Sarah Rob- 
erts ; 14 c. ; d. in 1868. 

Ruth, 1). 1809; d. young. 

Mary, b. 181 1; d. young. 

Timothy T., b. Jul.\ 31, ]8ij; m. Xancy Gardner; 4 c.; d. in 1868. 

Dr. Charh-s, b. Jan. 1814; m. Clarinda Havener; d. in 1840. 

Hon. Xathan hi ., b. June 9, 1815 ; m., 1st, Elvira Irish; 2d, Alary 
Langham ; 3 c. ; d. in Minn, in 1892. 

Mary, b. 1818; m. Calvin Fogg; 4 ch. ; d. in 1893. 

WinslozK.', b. Mar. 8, 1821 ; m. 1st, Amelia Putnam; 2d, Cornelia Rand; 
3d, Maria Bangs; 7 c; d. in 1879. 

Rtifu.s', h. Apr. 14, 1823; m. Adeline Files; 6 c.; d. in Minn. i(;oo. 

Dr. ].\cor. Roi-.krts, son of tlie preceding-, h. in lUioktield, 
May 10. 1784, (lied at Xsirth \ assalboro. Me., Mar. 15, 1856. 
He \\-3.s a self-made man. He acqnired liis education and fitted 
iiimself for a physician by workinii' on tlie farm and leaching. 
In 1810 he married Miss Htiklah M. Myrick of Hebron. Me., b. 
in Xorth Yarmouth in 1793, and settled in Urooks where he 
practiced liis profess'on for nearly 40 years with great success. 
J-'or many _\ears he was the most eminent ph}-sician in all that 
section of the state and became noted for his skill in tlie treat- 
ment of serious cases. He became a convert to the Quaker faith 
in religion and the homeopathic system of medicine. In politics 
he was r. whig and his influence among his patients was so great 
that he carried his town which was democratic by a large ma- 
jority for (ien. Harrison for President in 1840 by over 100 ma- 
jority. D(X-tor Roberts was noted for his benevolence and pub- 
lic spirit and had great tenacity of faith and purpose which char- 
acterizes the family. JJis wife died A]ir. (), 1845. Thev left 
several sons who rose to eminence in ]:)rofessional and ])olitical 
life. Children all but first born in lirooks, Me.: 

Hamlin M., b. Buckfield, 181 1 ; ni. Mary A. Ricli ; s. in Brooks, Me. 

Jacob IV., Esq., b. Nov. 29, 1813; m. ist, Phebe S. Abbott; 2d, Jane 
Lippincott. 

Amorcna D., h. Sept. 2, 1815; m. Dr. Ezra Manter. 

Hon. L^arnahas M., b. Oct. 17, 1818; m. Emeline Ricli. 

Charles L., Esq., b. Apr. 14, 1821 ; m. Caroline P. Metcal-f; s. in Til. 

Prof. Porlcous B., b. July 27, 1823 ; m. Mary A. Preckett. 

Emily E., b. in 1825 ; d. 1834. 

Phcbe v., h. April 5, 1828; m. William P. Miller. 

Huldah J., h. Dec. 19, 1830; m. Dr. J. H. Barrows; s. in (.ardiner. 

Ellen C, b. May 2/, 1833; m. Dr. Erza Manter. 

Dr. William P. Roberts, h. Jan. 25, 1836; m. ist, Susan D. Weeks; 
2d, Cora B. Ferris ; s. in Wisconsin. 



672 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Hamlin Myrick Rokerts, son of the precedinij, born in 
Buckfiekl in 1811, m. in 1835, Mary A. Rich. He was an early 
abohtionist and was one of the three in Jackson, Me., who voted 
for James G. Birney for President in 1840. He was a highly 
respected citizen and took a deep interest in political and public 
affairs but refused all efforts of his fellow townsmen to elect 
him to office. He died in Brooks, June, 1856. His widow m. 
Rev. Dexter Waterman in 1859 and d. in East Dixfield in 1877. 
Children all born in Jackson, Me. : 

Allen H. Roberts, b. Feb. 22, 1836; m. 1863, Ivate Weatherbee ; re- 
sides in Chicago, 111. 

Dr. Francis A. Roberts, b. Aug. 9, 1838; m. Mary F. Hazzy. 

Emily, b. 1840; died 1848. 

Nelson Roberts, b. 1842; died 1848. 

Hon. Cassius C. Roberts, b. Mar. 5, 1845; m. Pauline E. Colcord ; 
resides in Chicago, 111. 

Hon. Cassius Clay Roberts b. in Jackson. Me.. ]\lar. 5. 
1845, "i- 1868, Pauline E. Colcord. Two children were born of 
this union: Parepa R. Aug. 7. 1869 and PauHne E., Aug. 15. 
1875. The latter married Feb. 13, 1897, James J. Lawler of 
Winsted, Conn., assistant superintendent of Winsted Silk Co., 
Chicago, where they reside. His wife d. Nov. 30, 1875 and he 
m. 2d Jan. 5, 1898, Margaret Bennett, who d. Aug. 2^., 1899. 
Their child, a promising son, named Cassius Philip Roberts, b. 
July 29, 1899, d. June 22, 1901 from the effects of gasoline ad- 
ministered by an insane nurse. 

Mr. Roberts acquired his education in the common schools 
and at the Maine State Seminary and Bethany College, West 
Virginia. On the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, he 
enlisted in the ist Maine Regiment but was rejected. When Col. 
Beal's loth Maine was recruited he enlisted in Co. I and served 
till the regiment was mustered out of the service May 3, 1863. 
At Cedar Mt., he was wounded in battle, but soon recovered and 
was promoted to corporal. After his discharge he again entered 
the service as a commissioned officer in the U. S. Colored 
troops and was in command of his company at the siege and 
capture of Port Hudson. He returned to ^Nlaine having re- 
signed after the opening of the Mississippi and almost immedi- 
ately re-enlisted in the First Me. H. A. and was promoted to 
First Lieutenant and Captain by brevet for gallantr>^ and faith- 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 678 

fill service. He was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, \ a. 
After the war, he became connected with a shij>buildins' firm at 
Stockton. ^le., and for several years run a g'eneral store at that 
place. For four years he was the political reporter and corre- 
spondent for the Jioston Cilobe. He heartily entered into the 
Liberal Rejiulilican movement of 1872 and was a member of the 
National C( invention which nominated Horace (ireeley for Presi- 
dent. He was first selectman of Stockton. Me.. 1876-1878 and 
state sen?.tor from W'aldo County in 1879. In 1884 he moved 
to Chicago, 111., where he has since resided. Mr. Roberts re- 
turned to the Republican party in 1897. In 1888 he was con- 
nected with the Chicago post ofifice but resigned the next year to 
begin the publication of the "South West Chicagoan." to wdiich 
was added the "Chicago Opinion" and six other weekly papers 
published by the West Chicago Press Association, of which he 
was editor. Captain Roberts is now^ (191 5) living in compara- 
tive retirement ?.t his pleasant home at Hollywood, Chicago. He 
has married a beautiful and accomplished Southern lady, who 
is devotedly attached to her worthy husband. 

T.\coB Wellixgton Roherts, second son of Dr. Jacob. 1). in 
Brooks, 'Me., Nov. 29, 1813. m. Phebe S. Abbott. He was a 
man of literary tastes and a writer of merit of both prose and 
poetry. He was well informed on all |niblic questions of his time 
and was deeply interested in politics. Mr. Roberts for many 
years was the leader of his party in liis section. He was a strong 
anti-slavery man. His wife d. in 18.44 and in 1849 ^le m. 2d Jane 
Lippincott. He contracted consumption vrhile travelling- in the 
West from which he d. Dec. t8, 1849. Children: 

Edward Junius, h. Feb. 8, 1837; d. Jan. 4, 1838. 
Dr. Eati'iird Junius, b. Feb. 10, 1839; m. Emma Evans. 
Freeman Myrick, b. Dec. 21, 1840; m. Aurelia J. York. 
Amorena, b. Nov. 5, 1842; m. Lemuel C. Grant. 

Mrs. Amorena (irant lives in lioston. Her husband served 
in the Civil War in several Maine regiments. After the war he 
followed the sea and was mate of the bark "Warren," w-hen it 
went down in a storm with all on board. ]^lrs. Grant is the 
author of a book on the descendants of Joseph Roberts. (She 
died suddenly at her home in Boston Sept. 3, 1915.) 

Hon. Barnabas Myrick Roberts, the 4th child of Dr. Jacob, 
was b. Oct. 17, 1818, in Brooks. He began teaching school at 16. 



(>74 HISTORY OF RUCKFIRLD 

Soon after rcachiiii;- his majority he wont to Kentucky uliere he 
taught school with much success. At the urgent re(|uest of his 
parents he returned home and settled on a farm in Jackson, lie 
married Miss Emeline Rich, a sister to his brother Hamlin's wife. 
In 1853 he opened a store at T.rooks vilhii^e and two years later 
became a partner with lion. X. (1. llichborn, afterwards the 
temperance candidate for governor of the state at Stockton 
which partnership continued till iNFr. llichliorn's death in 1S75, 
after which he conducted the business alone. Originally a whig. 
Mr. Roberts became an abolitionist in 1844. He was one of the 
founders of the reimblican party in Maine and was alwa\s one 
of its trusted leaders. 1 le was state senator from Waldo Lounty. 
l"\)r fotu' years was collectcM" of custiMUs at r>elfast. Me., tluring' 
the war and a candidate for CiMigTess in i8(i(). lie was a ready 
debater, well informed and of unimpeachable integrity. He d. in 
1896. His wife d. Dec. 19, 1893. They had se\ en children. 

Dr. Willi.vm Pinknev Rop.krts of Janesville. Wisconsin, 
the young'est child of Doctor Jacob Roberts, was born in r)rooks. 
Me.. Jan. 25, 183O. When eigiiteen years of age having been 
given up to ilie as a ho]Kdess consinnptive, he went \\ est where 
he reg'ained his health, lie g'raduated from the Hahnemann 
Medical College oi Chicago and began the practice of his pro- 
fession in Xewaygo. Michigan. He adopteil some original 
methods of treating the sick with great success. Son^.e years 
later he settleil in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he has become 
eminent. In i8ijO he originated and helpeil organize the Amer- 
ican Invalid Aid Society of r>ostc")n. He has become one of the 
highest authorities in the Cniied States on consumption. He 
was the originator of the custom of trying the stars and stripes 
over schoolhouses. The doctor has been twice married. His 
first wife was Susan .A. Weeks of \'assalboro, ?\le. She d. ami 
he ni. in 1888 Lora 1). h'erris of Janesville. 

Jox.\i"ii.\x 1\c>1!I-:kts, 2t.\, son of Josejih, sen., h. in Windham 
about 1700. m. in 178(1. Prudence Willartl. He served awliile 
on the coast of Maine during the latter part of the War of the 
Revolution. He was one of the early settlers oi I'ucktowii, Init 
after living here several years, moved to the eastern part of the 
state. Children recorded here : 

Jotliaiii, b. Dec. 28, 1787; m. Polly Ricliardson. 

I.ydui. h. Oct. j6, 17S0: ni. William Haskell. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIFXD 675 

Daniel, h. Dec. 30, 1791 ; m. Mary Haskell. 
Hannah, h. Dec. 22, 1794; m. Libbeus Jones. 
IViliiam, h. Mar. 17, 1796; m. Ruth Edwards. 
Cyrus, h. Apr. 21, 1803; went to sea; never returned . 

jON.xTiiAx Roberts (see sketch), brother of Joseph, sen., b. 
about 1746 in X. H., ni. in 1768, EHzabeth Webb at Windham 
and from there came to Bucktown in time to acquire a settling 
lot. He d. after 1815. We have no record of his wife's death. 
Chihlren recorded on 15. records: 

Samuel, b. Windham, Feb. 5, 1769; s. in Eastern Me. 

Susannah, b. Windham Apr. 28, 1771. 

George, b. Windham Apr. 26, 1773; m. Mary Brown. 

Jonathan, b. Windham July 17, 1775; moved from B. before 1820. 

James, b. Windham Sept. 15, 1777; m. Tabitha Roberts; s. in E. Me. 

Bethiah, b. Windham Sept. 17, 1779. 

Judith, b. Windham Oct. 6, 1781. 

Betsey, b. Dec. 10, 1783; m. Going Knight. 

Setli, b. May 5, 1786, moved away before 1820. 

Rebecca, b. Dec. 9, 1788; m. Arza Forbes. 

GEORt;E Roberts, son of the preceding, b. Apr. 26, 1773, m. 
]\Iary Brown. He settled after 181 5 in Eastern Maine. Chil- 
dren recorded here : 

Susannah, h. June 13, 1799. 

Amos, h. Oct. 6, 1800; m. Christina Rycrson. 

Esra, b. Mar. 30, 1802. 

George, Jr., h. Oct. 17, 1803; m. Miriam Hall. 

Jonathan, b. July 21, 1806. 

Sarah, b. July 8, 1808. 

Seth, b. Dec. 7, 1810. 

Benjamin Brown, b. Oct. 19, 1812. 

Alanson, b. Jan. 14, 1814. 

Mary Brown, b. May 2, 1816. 

Hannah, b. May 11, 1818. 

Setii Roberts, bro. of ihc prcce(Hng. b. ^lay 5, 178*^'. '^i- 
, s. in luistern Maine. CHiildren recorded here: 



Benjaynin, b. May 9, 181 5. 
James, b. Feb. 25, 1817. 



Ryerson. 



Luke Ryerson wdio was an early settler in the western part 
Buckfield, was b. in New Jersey. He m. Abigail Ellery. He 
settled first in York County where his first children were born. 



676 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

His wife died and he m. 2d Sarah Coombs of York b. Dec. 14. 
1766. He died in Buckfield in 1812. Children by first wife: 

Col. Will'uDU, b. Aug. 4, 1769; m. Sally Parsons; s. in Paris. 
Luke, Jr., I). 1772; m. Keziali Cushman ; s. in Paris. 

Elizabeth, b. . 

George, b. ; m. Elizabeth Jcnks; s. in Paris. 

Poliy, b. . 

John, b. . 



Joseph, b. ; d. yoiint 

Samuel, h. . 

BenjiDiiiii, h. . 



Siisciiiiiah, b. ; m. John Boarce ; s. in Auburn. 

Abigail, b. ; m. Irving. 

Children by second wife: 

Sarah, h. June 16, 1793; m. John Cole, Poland. 
Joseph, b. Oct. 7, 1794; s. St. Albans, \t. 

Hoxeell, b. Mar. 6, 1796; m. ist, Churchill; 2d, Roberts; 

3d, White. 

Naney, b. Mar. 9, 1798; m. Jonathan Pulsifer. 

Nchcniiah, b. Juh' 9, 1799; s. in Portland. 

Esther, b. Mar. 6, 1801 ; m. John Aloore. 

Roding, b. Aug. 20, 1802 ; m. Anna Whittemore. 

A". Osgood, b. Sept. 25, 1803; m. Xancy Hersey. 

Christina, b. Nov. 20, 1804; m. Amos Roberts. 

Simeon, b. Nov. 2^^, 1805; m. Miranda Walker; s. in Paris. 

Ebeiiezer, b. Aug. 20, 1807. 



Shaw. 

JoTHAM Shaw;, one of eighteen children, was the son of 
Deacon John Shaw and Jane (Drake) Shaw, a descendant of 
the celebrated Drake family of England. He was born in Wey- 
mouth, Mass., Sept. 2^^, 1764. He married Sarah Young Roberts 
of Windham, Me., about 1786. He was a soldier in the War for 
Independence and an early settler of Bucktown where he died 
Apr. 18, 1832, aged 68. His wife died Ma.r 4, 1855, in her 91st 
year. Children of Jotham and Sarah (Roberts) Shaw: 

Xoa, b. Dec. 25, 1787; m. John Hutchinson. 
Jesse, b. Nov. 5, 1789; m. Catharine Morse. 
Almira, b. Aug. 11, 1791 ; m. Joseph Chase. 
Amos, b. Dec. 6, 1793; m. Alan,- Chase. 
Miriam, b. Sept. 16, 1796; m. Edmund Hall. 
Charlotte, h. Aug. 2^, 1799; d. Apr. 3, 1805. 
Jotham, h. Dec. 3, iSoi ; m. Sarepta Whiting. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFfELD 677 

John, b. Mar. lo, 1804; m. Irene Irish. 
Isaac, b. May 21, 1806; m. Joanna Teague. 
Charlotte, h. Mar. 20, 1810; m. Tliomas Gates. 

Jessi: (Jotham. John) b. Nov. 5, 1789, m. Catharine 
Morse. She d. Aug. 29, 1875. He owned a farm which he 
cleared and in which he buih a house in the eastern part of the 
town, enhsted and served in the Wrv of 1812. Died Sept. 12, 
1886. Children : 

I. Syk'ira, born Dec. 28, 1816, married Daniel F. Simpson of Byron ; 
later removed to North Turner. Children ; 

George F., born Dec, 1845; Maria F., born July 4, 1847; F.})nna, born 
July 24, 1849; FJla, born July 2j, 1851 ; Charles S., born Sept. 5, 1854. 

II. Francis C, born Feb. 11, 1819; married Vilona Whitman. After 
her death he married Rebecca Smit.h He was killed by being run over 
with a yoke of oxen and cart. Had one son, Henry M., bom Feb. 28, 
1851, who lives in Caribou, Maine. Has three children : 

Grace, Shirley and Barton. 
III. Maria, born Feb. 22, 1821 ; married Ichabod Allen of Turner, Ale. 
I\'. James, born Mar. 16, 1823, married Isabella D. Brown of Bruns- 
wick, Mar. 23, 185 1. He enlisted in Nineteenth Maine Regiment, Co. E, 
Aug. 1862. Was in several battles and at the Battle of the Wilderness, 
May, 1864, received wounds from which he died in the hospital at Wash- 
ington, D. C, June, 1864. They had two children : 

Henry G., born Maj- 15, 1852; married Georgia A. Lowell. He died 
Nov., 1908. They have three children : 

James A., married Bessie Lee Alden of Marlboro, Mass. He is a 
Free Baptist minister preaching at Dale, N. Y. Annie B., married Rev. 
Luther D. Tibbetts. H. Loicell, married Florence Wyman of West 
Peru. They have one son, Jolin Henry, born June 30, 1912. 

Mary Emma, born July 2, i860; died Mar. 8, 1888. 

V. Henry M., born Mar. 13, 1824. When a young man shipped on a 
whaling voyage, and after returning to port, was never heard from again. 
Supposed by his relatives to have met with foul play. 

VI. Jotham, born June 4, 1826; went West and during the Civil War 
enlisted in a Minnesota regiment, but before the war closed was taken 
sick and died. 
VH. Alfrea, born April 18, 1829. In 1854 went to California and after 
the Civil War broke out enlisted in the Sixth Cal. Regiment, saw service 
on the Pacific coast and the Isthmus of Panama. In 1866 returned to 
Buckfield. Married Isabella D. Shaw, the widow of his brother James, 
bought a farm in the southern part of the town. In Oct., 1872, bought 
a stand in Buckfield village, where he lived until his death. May 17, 1899. 
Had two daughters, Kate B., married George C. Morrill of Sumner, and 
Josephine M. 

VIII. Geo. W., born Aug. 7, 1832, lived on the place owned and cleared 
by his father, married Sylvina Bonney of Paris, Me.; she died Oct. 30, 



678 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

1888. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Mary E. Jones, Sept. 13, 
1891 ; she died Aug. 23, 1906. He died July 15, 1908. His children were 
Addie E., and a son, who died in infancy. 

Amos (Jotham, John), b. Dec. 6, 1793, m. Mary Chase. Their 

children : 

Silas, h. Sept. 4, 1821 ; d. June 2i, 1893. 

Zenas. 

Joseph. 

Wilson. 

Silas (Amos, Jotham, John), m. Amanda C. Record. She 
died Dec. 29, 1903. They had one child, Mary A., b. Oct. 15, 
1855, m. Justus B. Mason. 

Zenas (Amos, Jotham, John), m. Jane Benson. They had 
two children : 

Wilson, married Elizabeth Spaulding (deceased). They had one son, 
tJ'arrcn S. 

Albert, married Sadie Kecne (deceased). They had 4 children, Jen- 
nie M., Ervin A., Bertha and Laxi'renee. 

Joseph (Amos, Jotham, John), m. Sarah Pettengill. They 
had one son, Alton /., m. Mary Harris. 

Wilson (Amos, Jotham, John), m. Ellen Loring. 

Jotham (Jotham, John), b. Dec. 3, 1801, m. Sarepta Whit- 
ing, b. July 29, 1805. He died June 25, 1868; she died Sept. 19. 
1893. Children : 

Mary Eli-aheth, b. June 28, 1829; m. Tohn H. Purkis of Providence, 
R. I. 

John Addison, h. Feb. 7, 1832; m. ist, Susan Record; 2d, Eliza Gil- 
bert; 3d, Ellen Bradley. 

Charlotte Frances, h. May 22. 1834; m. Hosea Bisbee. 

Charles A., b. Sept. 14, 1839; d. Mar. 21, 1851. 

Jotham William, b. Sept. 3, 1841 ; m. Rosanna B. Irish. 

Isaac Whiting, b. July 5, 1844. 

Sarepta A., b. Doc. 16, 1846; m. John Purkis. 

Jotham William (Jotham. Jotham, John), m. Rosanna B. 
Irish. Children : 

Isaac Whiting, b. Jan. 10, 1867; m. Ida Marston. 

Ella F., b. Oct. 21, 1870; m. Horace Dunn; res. Lisbon, Me.; children, 
Lcroy H. and Sarah R. 

Clarence W., b. Feb. 14, 1879; m- Jnlia Turner; res. Buckfield. Me. 
Their two children are Rodney E. and Gleason T. 

Harold, h. Feb. 23, 1886; m. Lida Gammon. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (i79 

John (Jotham, John) b. March lo. 1804, d. June 11, 
1888; m. Irene Irish. She d. March 9, 1889. Children: 
Phcbc, b. August 9, 1833; d. December 31, 1908. 
Elvira M., b. July i, 1835; d. March i, 1836. 
Rosette Irish, b. October 20, 1837; d. January 13, 1007. 
John Ei)icry, h. March i, 1841. 

Elica Attn, h. March 2, 1843; d. November i, 1871. 
Sarah Jane, h. October 23, 1845; d. December 18, 1S85. 
Juthaiii, 1). November 25, 1848. 

Phebe (John, Jotham, John ) m. \\\ A. Knap[). Children; 

W. Herbert, unmarried. 

Theresa Adelaide, married (J. W. Hall, deceased), Geo. Elliott. 

George C, married Lena House. 

Frank L., m. Gertrude Eastman. 

Henry A., m. Blanche House. 

Anna I. m. Norman Marsh. 

Grace G., unmarried. 

S.\RAH Jane (John, Jotham, John) m. Addison S. Young. 
Children : 

Angie May, married Adna Godding. 
Twins : 

Clarence A., married Gertrude Hodsdon. 

Carroll E., married Addie Hodsdon. 
Charles H., married Kate Phillips. 
Elvira, died young. 
//. Clifton, married Louise \'errill. 
R. Clarendo)t, died young. 

Jotham (John, Jotham, John) m. Lora E. Greene, July i, 
1858; d. November 2, 1907. Children: 

Albert Jotham. b. January 2g, 1879; d. February 17, 1879. 
Nellie Rosette, I). Novemlier jii, 1880; m. Ruel E. Taylor. 
Jnfant, b. February 13, 1882; d. February 15, 1882. 
I-.tta Louise, b. A])ril 15, 1887; m. Bernard Kennedy. 

LsAAC (Jotham, John) b. May 21, 1806; m. ist, Joanna 
Teague ; 2d, Fanny Teague Irish. He died April 8, 1894 ; Joanna 
died Aug. 27, 1862. Children: 

Sabina Ellen, h. Mar. 20, 1832; m. Asia Ricker; d. Aug. 20, 1868. 

Angelia J., b. Mar. 13, 1835; m. James H. DeCoster. 

Eliza 1-., b. Dec. 25, 183^; m. James 15. 15ryanl. 

Mary A., b. May 3, 1841 ; m. Decatur Irish. 

Isaac Wilson, b. Aug. 7, 1830; m. Ada M. Tiittle. 



680 HrSTORV OF BUCKFIELD 

Sabrina E. (Isaac, Jotham, John) m. Asia Ricker. She died 
Aug. 20, 1868. He died Feb. 25, 1910. Children: 

Esfclla D., b. Mar. 6, 1853; d. Dec. 2j, 1879; m. William S. Stetson. 
They had one son, Willie A., died Jan. 19, 1893. 

Fred A., b. May 10, 1857; "i- Kate Hemmenway Ellis; res., Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

Angclia D., b. July 10, i860; married Leon H. Bassett. She died 
Jan. 17, 1908; he died Dec. 16, 1897. They had 7 children: Arthur U'\, 
Cora A., Leon H., Walter S., Helen S., Carrie M. and Elsa L. 

Anna, b. Aug. 24, 1863; m. Fred Skillings of Auburn, Me. They 
have three children : Angle M. ; Mabel R., married Fred C. Bailey, have 
one child, Dorothea S. ; Rosa C. 

(Children of Angelia J. (Shaw) and Jc.mes H. DeCoster 
given in DeCoster genealogy.) 

Eliza F. Shaw (Isaac, Jotham, John) m. James B. Bryant. 

She died Jan. 24, 1913; he died Sept. 20, 1875. Children: 

John B., b. Nov. 20, 1867 ; m. Clara Waterman ; res., Buckfield. 
James I., b. Feb. 4, 1875 ;m. Eleanor L. Stearns of Paris, Me.; res. 
Buckfield. They have two children, Wilnia and Ja)nes. 

Mary A. Shaw (Isaac, Jotham, John) m. Decatur Irish. 
Children : 

Nellie, b. Aug. 23, 1866; d. Dec. 14, 1877. 

James E., b. July 6, 1870; m. Wilma Maxim; res. . They 

have one son, Hoivard Maxim. 

Isaac Wilson Shaw (Isaac, Joth?m, John), b. Aug. 7, 1850, 
was the youngest child and only son of Isaac Shaw, a prosperous 
farmer of East Buckfield. During his minority he came to the 
village, residing with his brother-in-law, James H. DeCoster, and 
became a clerk in the store and postofifice of the latter. Later, 
he acquired an interest in the business, and on the resignation of 
Mr. DeCoster, was appointed postmaster, serving about ten 
years. On Mr. DeCoster's retirement he became sole proprietor 
of the store. He devoted great energy to his affairs and under 
his close attention and careful management his business steadily 
increased until his store became a prominent center of hardware 
trade for a large surrounding country. He married Ada M. 
Tuttle of Buckfield. He died Feb. 22, 1906. Children: 

Amy Wilson, b. July 19, 1878. 
Howard P., b. Sept. 12, 1882. 
Mildred W., b. Oct. 11, 1889. 
Helen M., b. Jan. 27, 1893. 




I. Wilson Shaw 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 683 

Charlotte (Jotham, John) b. Mar. 20, 1810; d. Nov. 13, 
1900; m. Thoma.s S. Gates of Bangor, Me., who died June, 1807. 
Children : 

Sarah Elizabctli, m. Tliomas Files; res. Bangor, Me. They have a 
son, Ralph Ernest, and a daughter, Bertha Celestia. 

Celestia, m. Rev. S. C. Whitcomb, res. Bangor, Me. Tliey liad one 
son, Arthur Mcllcn, who died in 1884. 

Miriam Shaw, teacher in Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C. 

Mcllcn Thomas, m. Annie Wood ; res., Bangor Me. They have one 
daughter, Charlotte, m. Frank Rowe. 



Smith. 

Jasiel Smith was born in Taunton, Mass., March 25, 
1734. He m. Anna Crossman. In 1787 they came to Turner 
and died there. Children : 

Hannah, b. Feb. i;„ 1758; m. Samuel Andrews (B.'s ist Rep.) 
A daughter, b. July 9, 1759, died in infancy. 
Laban, h. Feb. i, 1760; m. Molly Bryant of Turner. 
Jasiel, h. Feb. 7, 1763: m. Rachel Purington of Topsham. 
Asa, b. Aug. 22, 1765; m. Jane Niles of Turner. 
Seba, h. June 13, 1767; m. Aphia Stevens. 
Nancy, b. May 13, 1769; m. Moses Stevens of Turner. 
Keziah, b. Sept. 22, 1771 ; m. James Waterman of Buckfield. 
Cliloe, b. Mar. 16, 1774; m. Dr. Charles Hayes of Reading. 
Rachel, b. Mar. 25, 1780; m. Rev. John Strickland of Turner. 

Jasiel and Seba, sons of Jasiel, settled in Buckfield. After 
living here for several years, the latter moved to Bridgton. The 
former served in the War of the Revolution. He died in Buck- 
field May 15, 1848. Only one child is recorded on our records, 
Anna, b. Dec. 19, 1791. 

Seba Smith, son of Jasiel, b. June 13. 1767; m. Aphia 
Stevens. They settled ist in Turner, 2d in Buckfield and 3d in 
Bridgton. He was the 2d post rider in tliat section. Children 
recorded on l>uckfield records : 

Charles, b. Aug. 29, 1790. 

Seba, Jr., b. Sept. 14, 1792; m. Klizabetli O. Prince. 

Silas, b. July 2, 1794. 

Abiel, b. July 13, 1796. 

Israel Smith of another fc.mily, with wife Rebekah, were 
settlers here before 1800. He was a taxpayer in 1797. We have 
no records of their deaths. Children : 



684 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Josiah, b. June 28, 1787. 
Israel, Jr., b. Sept. 20, 1789. 
Jaitc, h. Nov. 15, 1 791. 
Elliott, h. Oct. 14, 1794. 
Rebecca, h. June 10, 1797. 
William, b. May 26, 1802. 

Josiah Smith, son of the preceding, b. June 28, 1787, m. 

Bet.'^ey . Child: 

Montillian, b. Oct. 18, 1810. 

Spaulding. 

The Spauldings of Buckfield are descendants from Edward, 
the American ancestor, who came to Braintree, Mass., between 
1630 and 1633. The name is supposed to have been derived from, 
the town of Spalding in Linconshire, England. E. W. Spalding, 
Esq., of St. Louis, Mo., suggests that it means "shoulder-hitter," 
from spall, shoulder, and ding, to strike. The name originated in 
the Middle Ages. 

Benjamin Spaulding (see sketch) who made the first im- 
provements in the town of Buckfield, was b. at Concord, Mass., 
Feb. 5, 1739. The line of descent from the American ancestor 
Edward^ to him is as follows : Andrew,- Henry,^ Leonard,* Ben- 
jamin."' He m. Patty Barrett of Chelmsford, Nov. 29, 1764. She 
was b. Jan. 31, 1740. Leonard, the father of Benjamin, died in 
Concord, Mass., in Feb., 1758. His mother, Elizabeth, m. 2d, 
Dr. Ezekiel Chase. He died and she came to Buckfield to live 
with her son's family, where she died in 1799, aged 80. 

He died Oct. 14. 181 1. She died Oct. 4. 1819. Children 
(only last three born in Buckfield) : 

Patty, b. Sept. 14, 1765; m. Joseph Robinson. 

Rebecca, b. Nov. 10, 1766; m. Benjamin Heald. 

Benjamin, Jr., b. Aug. 15, 1768; m. 1st, Myrtilla Robinson; 2d, Mrs. 
Mary Bumpus. 

Leonard, b. Feb. 13, 1770; m. Margaret Warren. 

Elizabeth, b. Jan. 18, 1772; m. John Fletcher. 

Abel, b. Oct. 15, 1777; m. Phebe Proctor. 

Esther, b. Oct. 28, 1779; m. Alexander Thayer. 

StepJien, b. Aug. 13, 1782; m. Bethiah Record. 

Thankful, b. Aug. 16, 1787; m. Caleb Cushman of Paris. 

Hon. Benjamin Spaulding, son of the preceding, b. August 
15, 1768, at Chelmsford, Mass. ; m. Myrtilla Robinson of Sumner, 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (i.S5 

Oct. 15, 1790. She was b. Dec. 12, 1770. His wife d. Oct. i, 
1816, and he m. 2d, Mrs. Mar>' (Sturtevant) Bumpus of 
Hebron. She died June 24, 1845. He died Feb. 18, 1858, in 
the 90th year of his age. Children by first wife: 

Increase, b. Oct. 2, 1791 ; m. Sally Spaiilding. 

Liipira, b. Feb. 17, 1794; m. William Cole. 

Jonas, b. Apr. 22, 1796; m. Miriam Irish. 

Adrian, b. July i, 1800; d. Mar. 4, 1825. 

Axel, 1). Feb. 17, 1803; m. Clarissa Murdock. 

Sidney, b. Jan. 20, 1807; m. Eliza G. Atwood. 

Melissa, b. Jan. 22, 1809; d. Aug. 18, 1831. 

By second wife : 

Dasiine, b. Jan. 15, 1819; m. Clarinda B. Parsons. 

Ozcn, b. Dec. 2, 1821 ; m. Martha M. Emery. 

IxcRE.\SE Spaulding, Esq., son of the preceding, b. Oct. 2, 
1791 ; m. S?.lly Spaulding. He held the principal town offices 
and served as town clerk for many years. She died Dec. 11, 
1836. He died April 22, 1839. Children : 

Danville D., b. Jan. 8, 1815; d. Feb. 11, 1816. 

Cynthia E., b. Oct. 13, 1819; d. Sept. 20, 1820. 

Adrian, b. Nov. 4, 1824; m. Betsey Davis; s. in Freeport. 

Francis E., b. Mar. 21, 1827; m. Mary Record; s. in Corning, N. Y. 

Sarah J., b. June 26, 1830; m. John Walcott of Mechanic Falls. 

Augustine W., b. Feb. 17, 1832; d. May 26, 1835. 

.V(;//y, 1). Nov. 2, 1836; d. Mar. 11, 1837. 

Jonas Spaulding, Esq., 2d son of Hon. Benjamin, b. Apr. 
22, 1796; m. Miriam, dau. of Thomas and Elizabeth Irish. He 
was town treasurer and a member of the board of selectmen and 
asssessors for many years. He died Mar. 15, 1848. Children: 

Mary J., b. Feb. 28, 1820; m. William Record. 

William Franklin, b. Dec. 29, 1821 ; d. Jan. 31, 1892; m. Emily Warren. 

Elizabeth, b. Jan. 20, 1828; d. July 28, 1848. 

William Franklin Spaulding, son of the preceding, b. 
Dec. 29, 1 82 1 ; m. Emily, dau. of David and Phebe Warren. He 
d. Jan. 31, 1892. She d. Apr. 26, 1895. Child: 

Elizabeth, b. Sept. 10, 1854. 

Major Axel Spaulding, 4th son of Hon. Benjamin, b. F'eb. 
17, 1803; m. Clarissa Murdock. He died April i. 1856. She 
died Oct. 27, 1869. Children: 

Frederick A., b. Dec. 27, 1825 ; m. Amanda M. Bisbce. 

Clarissa, h. July 31, 1828; m. John Q. Ellis of Sumner. 



686 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Frederick Augustus Spaulding, son of the preceding, b. 
Dec. 2^, 1825 ; m. Amanda M., dau. of Capt. Lewis and Elizabeth 
Bisbee of Sumner. He died June 12, 1856. Child: 

Leii'is Bisbee, b. Dec. 11, 185 1. 

Sidney Spaulding, 5th son of Hon. Benjamin, b. Jan. 20, 
1807; m. Eliza G. Atwood. He died Apr. i, 1881. She died 
June 14, 1896, aged 86. Children: 

Mary, b. Feb. 27, 1835; d. Aug. 18, 1835. 
Benjamin, h. June 15, 1836; m. Mary Barrett. 
Cyrus Cole, b. Feb. 18, 1838; m. Ellen M. Tuttle. 
William Cole, h. June 18, 1841 ; m. Lovina J. Sterling. 
Flora A., b. Feb. 20, 1846. 
Florence A., b. Ja.n 26, 1855 ; m. C. Childs. 

Benjamin Spaulding (see sketch) oldest son of Sidney, b. 
June 16, 1836; m. Mary Barrett of Sumner. She d. Mar. 10, 
1885. Children : 

Sarah Eliza, b. Mar. 10, 1872. 
Mary, b. July 11, 1874; m. James E. Warren. 
Benjamin, Jr., h. Mar. 29, 1876. 
Gilbert Barrett, b. Mar. 9, 1878. 

Cyrus C. Spaulding, son of Sidney, b. Feb. 18, 1838; m. 
Mrs. Ellen M. Tuttle of Turner, dau. of Lucius Young of Buck- 
field. He served as Corp. in Co. C of Col. Chamberlin's 20th 
Regt. Maine Vols., and while in the service contracted the disease 
of which he died July 3, 1897. He was for several years after 
the war, a successful merchant in his native village and was also 
town clerk for many years. His wife d. May 4, 1878 and he m. 
2d, Mrs. Carrie Crommett. Children: 

Infant, h. Mar. 2, 1867 ; d. Sept. 12, 1867. 
Nellie B., b. Sept. 11, 1870; m. Stanley Bisbee. 
Myrtic M., b. Aug. 28, 1872; m. Dr. Arthur E. Cole. 
Lottie M., b. Jan. 20, 1874; m. Ellis Russell. 

Child by 2d wife: 

Lila S., b. May 27, 1881 ; m. Harley F. Rawson. 

William C. Spaulding (see sketch) son of Sidney, b. June 
18, 1841 ; m. Lovina J. Sterling. She d. March 31, 1904. Set- 
tled in Caribou. Children: 

John S., b. July 21, i86q; m. Harriet Louise Burpee. He died Dec. 
15, 1896; no children. 

At'a'ood W., b. Jan. 6, 1873. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD (587 

Dastine Spaulding, Esq., son of Hon. Benjamin, b. Jan. 
15, 1819; m. Clarinda B. Parsons, b. Dec. 15, 1821. He was 
town clerk for many years, also selectman and treasurer. He 
moved to Cape Elizabeth. Xo issue. 

OzEN Spaulding, bro. of the preceding, b. Dec. 2, 1821 ; m. 
Martha M. Emery of Hartford. He d. Mar. 7, 1888. Child: 

Orlando H., b. Feb. 18, 1857. 

Capt. Leonard Spaulding, 2d son of Benjamin, sen., b. Feb. 
13, 1770; m. Margaret \\'arren. He died Aug. 2"/, 1854. Slie 
died July 13, 1856. Children: 

Sally, b. Nov. 22, 1794; m. Increase Spaulding. 

William, b. Apr. 2, 1796; m. Rebecca Swallow; s. in Ohio. 

Zilpha, b. July 25, 1799; m. Hon. Job. Prince. 

James, b. June 10, 1802 ; m. Cynthia Bray. 

Africa, b. Maj- 10, 1804 ; m. Harriet Sw ett ; s. in Ohio. 

Almcda, b. Aug. 28, 1807 ; m. Winchester Spaulding. 

Ahel, b. July 29, 1809; m. Marcia Geer; s. in Ohio. 

Jane, b. Sept. 20, 1811 ; m. Winchester Spaulding. 

Beujamin Franklin, b. Dec. i, 1814; m. Lydia S. Fletcher; s. in Minn. 

Diantha, b. Aug. 20, 1817; m. Aratus Farrar. 

Capt. James Spaulding, son of the preceding, b. June 10, 
1802; m. Cynthia Bray of Turner. His wife died Dec. ii, 1864, 
and he went to live with his son-in-law, Jacob W. Browne, Esq., 
at Earlevill, 111., where he died in 1886. Children: 

Margareita J., b. Sept. 8, 1826, m. ist, Ezra S. Bisbee ; 2d, Jacob W. 
Browne, Esq. 

Zilpha Prince, b. Apr. 10, 1832; m. Christopher C. Packard. 
James G., b. July 4, 1834; m. Nancy W. Hines. 
Emma F., b. Feb. 16, 1844; m. Capt. John E. Bryant. 

Abel Spaulding, son of Benjamin, the first settler, b. Oct. 
15^ '^777'' "^- Phebe Proctor. He died Sept. i, 1809. She died 
Oct. 21, 1812. Children: 

Asa, b. Aug. 24, 1800; d. Sept. 13, 1816. 

An'illa, b. May 11, 1803; m. Cyrus Record. 

Phebe, b. Oct. 3, 1809; m. Lewis Record. 

Stephen Spaulding, the youngest son of Benjamin, the first 
settler, b. Aug. 13. 1782; m. ist, Bethiah Record; 2d. Sophia 
Morrill. He died Apr. 27, 1868. Last wife died Feb'. 3. 189 1, 
in her 97th year. Children : 

Winchester, b. Feb. 13, 1805; m. ist, Almeda Spaulding; 2d, Jane 
Spaulding. 



688 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Roxanna, b. July 3, 1808; m. Isaac Tuttle of Turner. 
Alexander Thayer, b. June 20, 181 1; m. Mary J. Manly; s. in Ohio. 
E})ierline, b. June 5, 1814; m. Wm. S. Bisbee of Sumner. 
Danville Decatur, b. Mar. 18, 1820; m. Roxy M. Brown; s. in Minn. 
Stephen Jaekson, b. Sept. 17, 1828; m. Georgianna Buck; s. in Minn. 
George Greenleaf, h. Jan. 25, 1832; m. Charlotte G. Morrill; s. in 
Sumner. 

Augustus Washington, b. May 26, 1837; m. Mary B. Keen. 

Winchester Spaulding, oldest son of the preceding, b. Feb. 
13, 1805; m. Almeda Spaulding. She died Feb. 11, 1843, and he 
m. 2d, Jane Spaulding. He died Mry 15. 1891 ; 2d wife d. Jan. 
16, 1894. Children : 

Francis M., b. Dec. 22, 1830; d. Oct,. 1837. 

Melissa, h. Jan. 19, 1832; m. John Cresey. 

Alexander, b. Oct. 2^, 1834; d. Xov. 28, 1857. 

Mary ElizabetJi, b. July 15, 1837; m. William Clapp of Salem, Mass. 

Martha M., h. Apr. 30, 1840. 

Augustus W'ashungtox Spaulding, brother of the pre- 

ceeding, b. May 26, 1837; m. Mary B. Keen. Children: 

Carroll Augustus, b. Aug. 2^, 1856. 
Georgianna Julia, h. Aug. 28, 1865. 
Stefhen. b. Feb. 21, i860. 

Danville Decatur Spaulding, son of Stephen, b. Mar. iS, 
1820; m. Roxy M. Brown. They settled in Minnesota. Children 
recorded here : 

Augustus IV., b. Mar. 25, 1846. 
Alonzo D., h. Dec. 27, 1847. 
Victoria A., b. ]vlay 9, 1850. 



Stephens 

The Stephenses of Buckfield, Paris and Woodstock are de- 
scended from an old Plymouth County, Massachusetts, family. 

Ezra Stephens, with his wife, Lydia, came to Buckfield early 
in the last century. He began trade in the village on the east side 
of the river near the present site of the post office. Capt. Sajn- 
uel. his brother, b. in Plymouth in 1768, s. in Woodstock. 
Zaccheus. another brother, s. on Paris Hill, where for many years 
he kept a public house. Ezra Stephens died about 1818 from the 
effects of being kicked by a horse. After his death family moved 
away. Children recorded on our records: 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIIiLD 689 

Benjamin S., h. Sept. 29, 1808; m. Al)i<;ail Sampson; s. ist, Sumner, 
and afterward moved to Paris wlierc he d. May 8, 1874. 
Ecra, b. Aug. 3, 181 0. 
Elcazcr, b. Mar. 13, 1813. 
Edward E., b. Dec. 20, 1814. 
Louisa A., b. Mar. 5, 1817. 
Sylvia E., h. Nov. 19, 1819. 

SWETT. 

John Swett, son of Dr. Stephen Swett, a surgeon in tlie 
Revolutionary War, and his wife, Sarah Adams, b. June 23, 1763 ; 
m. Betsey Warren. He came here from Gorham or Windham 
and settled in the township before the census was taken in 1790. 
John Swett of Windham served 3^ years in the Revolution. Dr. 
Stephen Swett was the first physician to settle in Gorham. He 
was b. in Newmarket, N. H., and was the son of Moses and Han- 
nah (Swett) Swett. The American ancestor of this family was 
John Swett, who came from England and was one of the 
grantees of Newbury in 1642. His son, Capt. Benjamin Swett, 
the grandfather of Dr. Stephen Swett, was killed in a fight with 
the Indians at Scarborough, June 29, 1677. Dr. Stephen, with 
his family, moved to \\'indham and late in life to Otisficld, where 
he d. Jan. 6, 1807. His wife d. there May 3, 1808. 

Two brothers of John, Nathaniel, b. Oct. 9, 1771, m. Olive 
Moody and d. in Scarboro ; and William, b. Dec. 6, 1776, m. 
Clarissa Benson of Middlcboro and d. at Hartford, were resi- 
dents for several years in Buckfield. 

John Swett for many years was one of the principal citizens 
of the town. He died July 14, 1844, i" Buckfield (so grand- 
daughter, Mrs. Rose M. Briggs, 1905, says). Children recorded 
lie re : 

John, Jr., 1). Feb. 4, 1789; m. Remember Berry. 

Josiah, b. Sept. 13, 1790; m. Achsa Hayford. 

Polly, b. Apr. 23, 1792; m. Clemmons Randall. 

Margaret, h. Apr. 21, 1794; m. Ephraim Ricker. 

Xancy, b. July 27, 1796; m. Abial Drake, Jr. 

David Warren, h. May 8, 1798; m. Almira Ricker. 

Hon. Leonard Spaulding, h. Dec. 7, 1801 ; m. and s. in 111. ; was a 
prominent lawyer and f)olitician. He was at one time a law partner of 
Abraham Lincoln, i c. recorded on our records: Erancis L, h. Sept. 
23, 1827. 

Lorenzo Spauldiufi, b. Oct. 27, 1808. 



690 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Taylor. 
Samuel Taylor (see sketch) came here from Pembroke. 
M?,ss.. where the baptism of six of his children is recorded. His 
wife was Priscilla Simmcnis of Duxbury, a descendant of Moses 
Simmons, the Pilgrim who came in the Fortune. Their mar- 
riage occurred Nov. i, 1750. The date of her death is not known. 
He died after the census was taken in 1810 at the great age of 
94. Children: 

Saiiiucl. h. ; m. 1784, Hannah Low of Marshfield ; lived for a 

period in Inickfield. 

Asa, bap. July 20, 1755 ; m. Dec. jo, 1S18. Mrs. Rebi.kah Ames. 

Urania or Raiiali, bap. July 20, 1755; m. Aug. 17, 1780, Isaac Foster, 
s. in Buckfield. 

John, bap. June 15, 1760. 

Priscilla, bap. July 10, 1763. 

Richard, bap. Oct. 2, 1768; m. Mary Roberts; s. in Buckfield. 

Jabcc, bap. Oct. 2, 1768; m. Dorcas Irish; s. in Buckfield. 

Richard Taylor, son of the preceding, m. Alary Roberts, 
April 27,. 1794. He lived mrny years in the east part of the town 
in the vicinity of the Federal Corner. He died June 16, 1849. 
She died Feb. 20, 1848. Children: 

Elicahcfh. b. Jan. 27, 1795; m. Benson Cushman. 
Dolly, h. Sept. 12, 1706; d. April 23, 1871. 
Prudence, h. July J2. 17(18. 
Mary, h. Oct. 21, 1800; d. Feb. 20, 1848. 
Zoa, h. Dec. 14, 1802; m. Harvey Sylvester. 
Huldali, b. Jan. 8, 1803. 

John, b. Feb. 10, 1807 ; m. Olive Morrill. 
Richard, b. Mar. 6, 1809; m. Miriam Tburlow. 

[abez Taylor, brother of the preceding, b. Oct., 1765 ; m. Feb. 
9, 1795, Dorcas Irish. He lived on the settling lot of his father 
for many years, but tinally moved into the western part of the 
town with his son. A\'illiam L., where he died April 9, 1854. She 
died Nov. 2, i86r, aged 88 years and 2 mos. Children: 

Elias, b. Mar. 29, 1796; m. Alargaret Lothrop; s. in Hebron; d. in 
B. Nov. 28, 1889. 

Asa. b. Mar. 16, 1800; m. Lavina Record. 

Abel, b. Nov. 2S, 1803; d. Jan. 4, 1809. 

Thomas, b. ; s. in Mass. 

iniliain l.., b. — : m. Drusilla Record. 



HISTORY OI- BUCKFIELD 691 

Asa Taylor, son of the preceding, b. Mar. i6, 1800; m. 
1831, Lavina Record. He died Mar. 9, 1894. She died Aug. 
29. 1888. Children: 

Dr. Rotliciis U'aitc, \>. Mar. 17, 1845; m- Florence Cushman; s. in Port- 
land. 

Carroll Asa, 1). Dec. 6, 1846; m. Alice Jordan. 

Carroll A. Taylor, son of tlie preceding, b. Dec. 6, 1846; m. 
AHce Jordan. Child : 

Bciija)iiin Jordan. I1. Aug. 21, 1876. 

\\iLLL\M L. Taylor, son of Jabez, b. ; m. 1834. Drusilla 

Record. Children : 

Albion, b. Jan. 17, 1835; m. ; .<?. in South Paris. 
Louisa J., Ii. Oct. 19, 1840; m. Robinson Dean. 

John Tayluk, son of Richard, b. Feb. 10, 1807; ni. 1834, 
Olive Morrill. Children: 

Henry LezL'is, b. Apr. 15, 1835. 
Hozcard, b. June 25, 1839. 
Mary franccs, b. Ma>' 22, 1845. 

Richard Taylor, Jr.. brother of the preceding, b. M''ar. 6, 
1809 ; m. Miriam Thurlow. This family moved to Byron and set- 
tled on Ruckheld Hill. Children recorded on Buckfield records : 

Adalinc Wads-vcorth, b. Jan. 10, 1833. 

Ruth Tlntrloii', b. Apr. 15, 1835. 

Mary I'.Ii.'s.ahcth, b. Mar. 15, 1837. 

Teague. 
Baxi I called Beni) Teague (see sketch) a soldier of the Rev- 
olution, settled in Bucktown on Turner line before Jan. i, 1784. 
We have no record of his family. His name disappeared from 
the tax lists in 181 1. He probably died before 1820. Children: 

Bani, Jr., m. Sarah Tuttle ; s. in Turner. 
Patty, m. Peter Cilley, b. 1768; s. in Brooks. 
Polly, m. Simon Cilley, b. 1774; s. in Brooks. 
Elizabeth, m. Samuel Irish. 
J u da It, m. . 

Thayer. 
Asa Thayer, son of Ichabod and Mary (Marsh) Thayer of 
Milford, was seventh in descent from Thomas^ Thayer, who set- 
tled in .'Vmerica about i'")36. Asa was b. Oct. 3. 1767, and in 



(>92 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

1790 m. Lydia Chapin. They settled on one of the lots in the 
northwest part of the town, afterwards annexed to Paris. He 
died in 184S. Children recorded on our records : 

Levi, b. Oct. 2^, 1793; m. Sally Perry. 

Mary, b. Aug. 31, 1795; m. Galen Field. 

Didatuia, h. Sept. 9, 1797; m. Cyrus Keen; s. in Surnner. 

Lydia, h. July 3, 1799; m. Bela Farrar; s. in B. 

Ziba, b. Nov. 13, 1801 ; m. Almira Fobes ; s. in Paris. 

Laura, b. Dec. 14, 1S03 ; m. Austin Nelson, Hebron. 

Asa, Jr., b. Apr. 2, 1806 ; m. Lucy M. Whitney. 

Arba, h. Jan. 6, 1809; m. Florilla Tuttle. 

Dea. Levi Thayer, son of the preceding, b. Oct. 23, 1793; m. 
Sally Perry of Paris. Settled first in Buckfield, but afterward 
removed to Paris, where he remained during life. She d. Sept. 
7, 1864. He d. June 5, 1875. Childen recorded on Buckfield 
records : 

Alexander S., b. Sept. 5, 1819; m. ist, Angeline Pern,-; 2d, Ruth 
Marston. 

Emeline S., b. Aug. 4, 1821 ; ni. Simeon Cummings Paris. 
Horace C, b. Mar. 6, 1824; m. Betsey Whitehouse. 

Alexander Thayer, bro. of Asa, sen., b. Mar. 15, 1771 ; m. 
Esther Spaulding. He settled near his brother on one of the lots 
annexed to Paris. He d. suddenly of fever Mar. 8, 1809. She 
d. July 30, 1841. Children: 

America, b. July 5, 1799; m. Caroline Prentiss. 

Almira, h. Feb. 14, 1803; m. Cyprian Stevens. 

Lieut. Isaac Thayer was sixth in descent from Richard' 
Thryer, a brother of Thomas^ Thayer before mentioned, — the line 
of descent being Richard- b. 1624, Nathaniel" b. 1658, Zachariah* 
b. 1687, Zachariah^ b. 1719, Lieut. Isaac" b. Randolph, Mass., 
Nov. 23, 1741. He m. 1761, Mary Spef.r, who died in 1764; 2 ch. 
He m. 2d, 1770, Rachel Sawin, who died in 1780; 5 ch., Vashti, 
Rachel, Shadrack, Eunice and Eliphalet. He m. 3d, May 9, 1782, 
Hannah Joyce of Bridgewater, and they moved to Buckfield in 
1792, and settled in the western part of the town, on the farm 
now owned by one of his descendants — Webster Maxim. The 
house in which he lived and died, a cut of which is given here, 
was built soon after he moved here and it is probably the oldest 
house in town. He had served in the War for Independence 
and rose to the rank of lieutenant, for meritorious service. Lieut. 
Isaac Thayer was in the brilliant engagement at Trenton under 



H [STORY OF BUCKFIELD 



693 




Lieut. Isaac Thayer House, oldest building in town 

Gen. George Washington, and in other battles. While in the 
campaign of 1779 in Rhode Isk.nd he wrote a letter home to his 
wife which is preserved in the Smithsonian Institute at Washing- 
ton, D. C. He d. Feb. 22, 1805, and was buried on what was 
once his farm, now owned by Webster Maxim. In 1907 a granite 
stone furnished by the U. S. Government w^as placed at the head 
of his grave, and dedicated with appropriate exercises Ijy his 
descendants and others. A feature of the occasion was an orig- 
inal hymn written and sung by his great-grand-daughters, Mary 
and Martha Maxun of Cambridge, Mass. His widow remarried 
and survived him some 36 years. The children of this Revolu- 
tionary soldier are not recorded on Buckfield records. His son, 
John Thayer, had the homestead. His son, Shadrack, lived here 
awhile but finally returned to Massachusetts. Xone of the 
other children ever settled in IJuckheld. Children by 3d wife: 

Polly, h. March, 1786; m. Nathaniel Harlow. 

John, h. Feb., 1788; m. Susan Hersey. 

Hannah, h. ; d. young. 

Col. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 27, 1797; m. Mary Faunce ; s. in Paris; 4 c, 
Mary Ann, Hannah A., Sarah J., and Maria E. He d. Sept. 25, 1857. 



t}94 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Dcii. Joel B., b. Apr. 9, 1799; m. Mary Dudley; s. in Pari?. She d. 
and he m. 2d, Mrs. Louisa Davis; 2 c. by ist wife: Alvin, Angclinc, m. 
Dea. Elbridge Forbes, parents of Arthur E. Forbes, one of the editors 
of the Oxford Democrat. 

Lvdia, b. about 1802, m. Calvin Crooker, Jr., s. in Paris; 8 ch., Alniira, 
m. Henry O. Bessey ; Hannah J ., m. James M. Pote ; Cynthia Hill, m. 
Augustus C. Richmond ; Joel T., a former deputy sheriff at Norw a\', 
m. Mary A. Matthews; John B., m. Eliza Matthews, 2d Laura Merrill; 
Orlando and Edwin M., died young, and James Orlando, b. Dec. 4, 1841, 
m. Adelia H. Higgins, dau. of Thomas and Lucy A. (Bearce) Higgins, 
b. Norway, May 12, 1844. Mr. Crooker for many years was the leading- 
hardware dealer in Norway and vicinity and held many public positions 
of trust and prominence among which was chairman of selectmen and 
assessors of his town. He is now (1915) living in retirement with his 
family, enjoying the fortune he has honorably acquired through years 
of laborious effort and good management, and the respect and confidence 
of all. Children : 

L EstcIIc A., b. Feb. 21, 1867; m. Frank E. Bell. They resided in Port- 
land for many years, where he died Dec. 25, 1912. She has since made 
her home in Norway. Mrs. Bell is a lady of charming and attractive 
manners and of exceptional business and intellectual ability. 
II. Ella M. H., h. May i, 1868 — a lovable young lady who took high 
rank in her studies at school. She died Oct. 19, 1886, deeply lamented 
by all who knew her. Her aunt, Ella Higgins, for whom she was named, 
was like her in purity of character and loveliness of disposition. She, too, 
early went into a decline and died, leaving behind with her relatives and 
friends, tender memories never to be forgotten and a void in their hearts 
never to be filled on earth. 

John Thayer, son of Lieut. Lsaac, ni. Susan Hersey. He 
lived on the old homestead to his death in the autumn of 1853 in 
his 65th year, and his remains were interred in the Hall burying 
ground on the Paris Hill road. His wife survived him several 
years. Children : 

George irasliiiigfon, b. Oct. 29, 1812; m. Esther Merrill; s. in Aroos- 
took County. 

Jolin G., b. Jan. 5, 1814; m. Mary Bearce; s. in Aroostook Co. 
Isaac, b. 1827; m. Eliza Cooper; s. in Mich. 



Thomes. 

The Thomes families of Buckfield are descendants of Thomas 
Thomes, who was an inhabitant of Falmouth Neck as early as 
1716. His wife's name was Elizabeth. They united with Parson 
Smith's church in 1738. He built a house in which he lived in 



HISTORY OF J3UCKFIELD G95 

Clay Cove. He receixed a grant of land on the Neck in 1721. 
They had f.t least three children, Joseph, John and Thomas. Jr. 
The latter with his wife, Mary, and family, settled in Gorham, 
Me., prior to 17^)3. In clearing up his lot, a large apple tree was 
found and preserved. It proved very productive. One year 17 
barrels of cider were made from the apples that grew on it. After 
it had grown old and begun to decay a hollow in the trunk was 
large enough to secrete a full-grown person. He died Dec. lO, 
1790. His wife died Dec. 13, 1786. They had c.t least seven 
children, one of which was Samuel, born about 1749. He mar- 
ried Dec. 2T,, 1779. Sarah, daughter of John Lombard. He died 
Mar. 3, 1798, aged 51. His wife died May 20, 1846, aged 83. 
Children : 

Sarah, h. Sept. 7, 1781 ; m. Moses Baker. 
XafhaiiicI, 1). Jan. 2^, 1784; m. Mary Higgins. 
Rez'. George, b. Mar. 9, 1795; m. Rebecca Davis. 
Samuel, b. ; m. Betsey Harmon; s. in Denmark. 

Ri-:v. George Thomes (see church history) b. Mar. 9, 1795. 
came here from Gorham, Me., as pastor of tlic Universalist 
church society in 1840. His wife was Rebecca Davis, b. abt. 
1797. He was postmaster and town clerk for many years. He 
died May 6, 1871. Children: 

liuicrliiic. h. alit. 181- ; m. Cbarles Strout. 
Sa)iiucl, b. abt. 1820; m. .Soplionia O. Danley. 
Ursula, b. al)t. 1822 ;m. (/liarles Witliington. 
Moses B., h. abt. 1827; m. Jcnnette Bicknell 
Kaimulpli Cod mail, b. abt. 1830; m. Josephine Cole. 
Jcnncttc T ., b. Sept. (;, 1833 ; m. Oscar F. Gardner. 

Samuel. Thomes, son of the preceding, b. about 1820; m. 
Sophronia O. Danley. He began business as a merchant tailor at 
"Spaulding's Mills" or North Iktckfield, soon after his father's 
family came here. After doing business there a few years he re- 
moved to the village, where for many years he carried on a suc- 
cessful business and amassed a good property. His wife tiled 
and he m. 2nd Brittania (Gardner. Children: 

Gardner, h. Dec. 10, 1847. 

His 2d wife d. June, 1855, and he m. 3d, Mary Bicknell. 
She d. and he m. 4th, b'llen Morrill. 

Moses B. Thomi-.s, bro. of the i)receding, b. , 1827; m. 

Jennette Bicknell. He was a druggist and apothecary for mar.y 



696 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

years in the village and finally moved to Canton where he carried 

on the same business. She died Nov. 30, 1879. Children: 

George V., b. Oct. 2, 1853; m. Cora Snell. 
Ruth A., b. Oct. 5, 1862; m. Charles Record. 

His wife d. and he m. 2d Abby D. Childs. She d. Mf.y 10, 
1874, and he m. 3d, Georgie Gregg. 

Tucker. 

The Tuckers of Buckfield, Sumner, Paris and Norway, have 
ai common origin. They are of ?n ancient Massachusetts family. 
William Tucker, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Butterfield 
plantation prior to 1784. Isaac and Samuel who settled in Buck- 
field were brothers. They came from New Gloucester. Benja- 
min, who settled in Norway in 1800, is sf.id to have been related 
to the other three mentioned. 

William Tucker married Annie Morse of Newburyport, 
Mass. They had three girls, Sarah, Abigail and Dorcas, and one 
son, Amasa. The girls never married. 

Amasa Tucker, b. in Sumner about 1800; m. Ruth, dau. 
of Abijah Buck, Jr. They lived for a while in Buckfield. He 
d. Mar. 11, 1875. ^l^e d. Jan. 20, 1886. Children: 

William S., b. Aug. 30, 1822; m. Mrs. Lois (Damon) Tucker; s. in 
Buckfield. 

A})iasa, Jr., h. May 15, 1824; m. Hannah Wliite ; s. in Mass. 

Serena H., h. June 8, 1825; m. Sam'l Stanwood ; s. in Mass. 

Sarah A., b. Mar. 28, 1827; m. Sam'l Stanwood. 

Ellen M., h. Apr. 14, 1829 ; m. Brainerd Towle ; s. in Mass. 

Margarette, b. Apr. 9, 1831 ; d. Apr. 12, 1833. 

Cyrus A., b. July 3, 1833; m. Caroline Bates; s. in Sumner. 

Emily S., b. Mar. 18, 1835; d. Nov. 17, 1857. 

Eli::a A., b. Aug. 28, 1837; m. ist, Horace Keen; 2d, Chas. W. Field. 

James R., h. Aug. 3, 1839; m. Adelia Benson; s. in Paris. 

William S. Tucker, son of the preceding, b. Aug. 30, 1822; 
m. Mrs. Lois Tucker, widow of Elbridge, s. Buckfield. Children : 

Mary, m. Cummings. 

William Henry, b. July 10, 1843; m. Churchill. 

James R. Tucker, youngest son of Amasa, b. Aug. 3, 1839; 
m. Adelia Benson of Paris. He was a soldier in the Civil War, 
and was a member of Capt. O. F. Nimm's famous Massachusetts 
battery. Kept a public house at West Paris and other places. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD (597 

\\'as sheriff of the county from 1898 to 1903, and keeper of the 
jail for many years. Children: 

Clara E., b. Aug. 30, 1867; d. Oct. 31, 1887. 

George H., h. Jan. 2, 1869; m. Frances L. Stephenson; s. in Portland. 

Ruth A., b. Apr. 26, 1871 — a very smart and talented lady. Many years 
ago she was thrown from a carriage and received a severe injury to her 
spine. She has obtained considerable relief from several operations. 
While her father was jailer at South Paris, she managed the office suc- 
cessfully for the greater part of the time, and is capable of managing 
almost any kind of business. 

Annie L., b. Jan. 18, 1876; d. Oct. 13, 1877. 

Eva May, b. Feb. 15, 1880. 

Samuel Tucker m. Anna . He died June 8, 1846. 

Children : 

Phebc, b. Oct. 18, 1794; died unmarried. 

Samuel J., 1). July 29, 1796; s. ist in Parkman, afterwards in Mass. 

Amos, b. July 30, 1798; m. Lucretia . 

Eemuel, b. Aug. 16, 1800; m. ; s. in Paris, afterwards moved to 
Abington, Mass. 

Lydia, b. Nov. 5, 1802; m. . 

Anna, b. Dec. 10, 1805; m. Madison Johnson; s. in Springfield. 
Abigail, b. Jan. 3, 1808; m. Andrew Hutchinson; s. in Hallowell. 
Reuben, h. Dec. 5, 1810; s. in Eastern Maine. 
Olive, b. Aug. 28, 1812; m. Nelson Warren. 

Amos Tucker, son of the preceding, b. July 30, 1798; m. 

Lucretia . Children : 

Orville P., h. July 15, 1835. 

Cornelia H., b. Apr. 10, 1837 ; m. John P. Newton. 

Orville P. Tucker, son of the preceding, b. July 15, 1835; 

m. . He was an engineer on the railroad for many years. 

Child : 

Marian Louise, b. July 5, 1867. 

Isaac Tucker m. Polly Atkins. He settled on a farm in the 
western part of the town. It is still owned by his son. He died 
abt. 1872, aged 93. Children: 

Sally, b. A])r. 30, 1800. 

Maliala, h. June 25, 1803; d. Sept. 14, 1803. 

Timothy, h. Dec. 19, 1804. 

She died and he m. 2d, Hannah Atkins. 

Charles, b. Oct. 19, 1807, m. Caroline Hammond. 
Elbridge, h. Feb. 2^, '809; m. Lois Damon. 



698 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Ari'illa, b. Oct. 13, 1810; d. unmarried. 

Levi, b. ]an. 8, 1812; m. Fanny Evans; s. ni Paris. 

Hannah A., b. Jan. 2, 1818; m. Asia Mayhcw ; s. in Mass. 

Isaac J., h. Mar. _', 1821 ; ni. ist, Esther A. Dean; 2d, Mary E. Griffin. 

The- mother died abt. 1890, aged 98. 

Isaac Tucker, sou of the preceding, b. Mar. 2. 1821 ; m. 
Esther A. Dean. Children : 

Emerson E., h. July 18, 1856; ni. Emma Howe. 

Cora E., b. April, 1866; m. William E. Cooper; s. in Paris. 



Turner. 

Jesse Turner, the first of the name to settle in the town of 
Buckfield, was a Revolutionary soldier from Pembroke. He 
married Bathsheba Lapham. May 3, 1780. They settled about 
1797 in what has since been known as the Turner neighborhood. 

The name was quite common in the old colony of Pl}'mouth 
and in England. One is mentioned in Pepy's Diary. John Tur- 
ner and his two sons came in the ^fayflowcr and died the first 
winter. A daughter afterwards came here. 

Humphrey Turner, with wife, Lydia liammon, and a son, 
John, came to Plymouth in i()28. They settled in Scituate. John 
m. Mary Brewster. Their children were Jonathan b. 1046, 
Joseph b. 1650, Ezekiel b. 1O51. Lydia b. 1653, John b. 1O54, 
Elisha b. 1657. — 

Jesse Turner was prob. a descendant of Humphrey. He d. 
Mar. 13. 1821, "aged yy." She d. June 30, 1832, "aged j^^,.^' 
Children : 

Cat't. Jesse, b. Mar. 9, 1781 ; m. Edna Buck. 
Lei'i, b. Sept. 22, 1784; m. Annis Buck. 
Luther, b. Apr. 2, 1788; m. Polly Buck. 

Ca[^t. Ls-aae, b. ; 170 — ; m. Margaret Higgins. 

Bathsheba, b. Sept. 20, 1797; m. Elijah Jordan. 
Capt. Joseph, b. about 1800; m. Sophronia Perry. 

Capt. lesse Turner. Jr.. son of the preceding, b. Mar. 9, 1781 ; 
m. Edna Buck. He rose to the rank of captain in the militia and 
was in command of a company of Buckfield soldiers which went 
to Portland during the contemplated British attack on that city in 
1814. He d. Aug. 20, 1849. His wife d. Jan. 25, 18O4. Children: 

Clarissa, b. May 11, 1807; m. J^enry Tobin ; s. in Lincoln, 

Arvilla, b. Mar. 21, i8og; m. Nathan Maxim. 



HISTORY OF BL'CKFIELD 099 

Xatluiiiicl h. June 24, 1811; m. Ann Thomas. 
Jesse, b. June 24, 1813; ni. Elcy Turner. 
Charles, b. June 17, 1816; m. Rachel Pratt. 
Otis G., b. May 31, 1818; m. Sophia Ann Jordan. 
Martin G., b. Nov. i, 1820; m. Rachel W. Merrill. 
Mary, 1). ; m. Perez Stubbs. 

Charles Turner, son of the preceding, b. June 17, 1816; m. 
Rachel Pratt. He died Jan. 7, 1868. Child: 
Mary Jane, b. Dec. 4, 1841 ; m. Abel Irish. 

Otis Greenleaf Turner, bro. of the preceding, b. Nov. 1, 
1820; m. Sophia Ann Jordan. He d. Dec. 28, 1885. She d. 
about 1912. Children: 

Benj. J., b. May 22, 1844; m. Louise Maxim. 

Otis G., Jr., b. Sept. 6, 1846; m. Ophelia Swan. 

Dastine S., b. Nov. 30, 1850; m. Sarah S. Maxwell. 

Lester S., b. June 12, 1859; m. Martha J. Corbet. t 

Melvena E., b. May 19, 1864; m. Warren E. Bumpus. 

Otis Greenleaf Turner, son of Otis G., sen., b. Sept. 6, 
1846; m. Ophelia Swan. Child: 

Charles L., b. June 2^,, 1869; d. Sept. 5, 1878. 

Dastine Spaulding Turner, bro. of the preceding, b. Nov. 
30, 1850; m. Sarah S. Maxwell. He lived on the old homestead 
of his father where he was born, for many years, but recently has 
moved to the village. Child : 

Lena, b. Jan. 2, 1878; m. Shirley M. Bonney. 

Lester S. Turner, bro. of the preceding, b. June 12, 1859; 
m. Martha J. Corbett. Children : 

Ina May, b. Sept. 21, 1885; m. Pearl Maxim. 

Harry O., h. Aur. 21, 1887. 

Mildred H., b. May 15, 1889. 

Martin G. Turner, son of Capt. Jesse Turner, Jr.. b. Nov. 
1820; m. Rachel W. Merrill. He died in 1852. She died June 
9, 1887. Children : 

Josephine, b. Nov. 12, 1846; m. Nathaniel Field. 

Wesley, b. Mar. 13, 1848; m. Rose F. Record. 

Clementine, b. Dec. 4, 1849; m. Samuel J. Record. 

Martin Nelson, b. Nov. 5, 1852; m. Emma .\. Smith. 

Wesley Turner, son of the preceding, b. Mar. 31. 1848; m. 
Rose F. Record. He died about 1915. Children: 
Ernest L., b. Jan. 15, 1873; m. Inez I\nlcy. 



700 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Rachel A., b. June 28, 1877; m. ist, Sherman Jordan; 2d, Judson 
Dudley. 

Nellie ]., b. July 16, 1887; m. Claude M. Whitman. 

Nelson M., bro. of the preceding, b. Nov. 5, 1852; m. 
Emma A. Smith. Children : 

Jidia M., b. Mar. 24, 1884; m. Clarence Shaw. 
Arthur C, b. Dec. 26, 1888; m. Isabel Jordan. 
Amy M., b. May 12, 1892; m. Robie Sturtevant. 

Luther Turner, son of Jesse, sen., b. Apr. 2, 1788; m. Polly 
Buck. Children: 

Melzcr, b. Jan. 5, 1807; s. in Lincoln. 
Luther, Jr., b. Sept. 9, 1809; s. in Lincoln. 
Esther, b. Apr. 10, 1811; m. John Elliott. 
Phebe B., b. Oct. 28, 1813 ; m. Henry Holbrook. 
Joseph, b. Jan. 16, 1816; d. youn.g 
Bathsheba J., b. May 4, 1819; m. Dennis Bisbee. 
Abigail L., b. Jan. 2, 1821 ; m. Constance Chandler. 
Winslow, b. July 4, 1825 ; m. Sarah J. Merrill. 
Betsey P., b. Mar. 31, 1828; m. Lysander Monk. 
Levi, b. May 22,, 1831 ; m. Columbia P. Bidwell. 

WiNSLOw Turner, son of the preceding, b. July 4. 1825 ; m. 
Sarah J. Merrill. Children : 

George L., b. . 

Ella E., h. Dec. 7, 1853 ; d. Feb. 22, 1855. 

George H., b. Mar. 25, 1856; m. ; s. in Auburn. 

Giles \V., b. Feb. 20, 1862; m. ; s. in Auburn. 

Levi Turner, 2d, bro. of the preceding, b. May 23, 1831 ; 
m. Columbia P. Bicknell. Children : 

Rosetta J., b. Dec. 26, 1858; m. Chas. A. Warren. 
Frank, b. ; m. , and s. in Mass. 

Capt. Isaac Turner, son of Jesse, sen., m. Margaret Hig- 
gins. He died Mar. 16, 1863. She died Mar. 29, 1859. aged 63. 
Children : 

Elsie, b. Feb. 9, 1819; m. Jesse Turner, s. of Jesse, Jr. 

Elijah, b. Mar. 28, 182 1 ; m. Lucy Ann Mason. 

Eliza, b. Nov. 25, 1822; m. Elias Monk. 

Enoch, b. Nov. 7, 1827 ; d. young. 

Lncinda, b. Aug. 22, 1829; d. unmarried. 

Decatur, b. Mar. 5, 1830; m. Melissa A. Monk. 

Luther, b. , 1840; m. Emily Mason. 

Elijah Turner, son of the preceding, b. Mar. 28, 1821 ; m. 
Lucy Ann Mason. He died Sept. 24. 1897. Children; 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 701 

Alplwrctta, b. Feb. 7, 1852; m. Alviu S. Bessey. 
Isabel, b. Dec. 17, 1853; m. Sidney Swallow. 
Lucy Ann, b. May 19, 1856 ; m. Dr. Gibbs, Livermore. 
Margaret, b. Aug. 30, 1858; m. Fred Atwood. 
Eliza, b. Mar. 5, i860; m. Herbert Hall. 

Decatur Turner, bro. of the preceding, b. Mar. 5, 1830; m. 
Melissa Ann Monk. Children : 

George W., b. May 21, 1855; m. Jennie Marston ; s. in Mass. 
Isaac, b. Jan. 24, 1857; m. Hattie Farrar. 
Alfred F., b. Alar. 17, 1863; m. Bertlia Keen; s. in Paris. 
Montelle, b. Apr. 9, 1875 ; m. Orah B. Monk ; s. in Paris. 

Capt. Joseph Turner, son of Jesse, sen., b. about 1800; m. 
Sophronia Perry. He died May 24, 1870. She died Tune' 23, 
1874. Children: 

Rozana, b. Oct. 24, 1826. 

Brittania, h. Apr. 25, 1829; m. Richard Fobes. 

Julia Long, b. Nov. 24, 183 1. 



Tuttle. 

The Tuttles who were among the early settlers in Buckfield 
trace their descent from John^ Tuttle who came to America and 
settled in Dover, N. H., shortly after 1633. 

Daniel Tuttle (a Rev. soldier) of the 6th generation (all of 
the line named John) b. in Dover, N. H., March 28, 1756; m. 
Lois Leathers, s. in Newfield, Me., from whence several of the 
children came to Buckfield, where he also came later and proba- 
bly died here. Children : 

Sarah, b. May 12, 1780; m. Bani Tcague, Jr. 

John, b. Dec. 7, 1783; m. Polly K. Snell ; s. in Paris. 

William, b. July 8, 1786; m. Dolly Chase. 

Betsey, h. July, 1789; m. Josiah Smith. 

Daniel J., b. 1792; m. Hannah Chase. 

Polly, b. 1795; m. Joshua Knox of Peru. 

Litcy, h. •; m. Richard Anderson. 

William Tuttle, son of Daniel, the Revolutionary soldier, 
b. July 8, 1786; m. Dolly Chase. Children: 
Issac, b. Oct. 7, 1808. 
Rhoda, b. Mar. 21, 1810. 

Hiram, b. Nov. 8, 1812; m. Brittania Fernald. 
Mercy C, b. May 9, 181 5. 
Louis L., b. Sept. 28, 1817. 



702 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Waldron. 

James N. Waldron, b. in New Brunswick ; m. Sarah Hanson. 
He died Sept. 12, 1873. She died in 1887, aged 78. Children: 

Olive Ann, b. Jan. 20, 1831. 

Sarah Jane, b. Aug. 25, 1832; m. Zenas Maxim, Jr., May 3, 1853, 

Linton, b. July 8, 1834. 

Milton, b. Mar. 29, 1837. 

Josephine /•>'., b. Mar. 24, 1839; m. Marion A. Bessey of Paris. She 
d. May 10, 1871. 

Frederick A., b. Apr. 6, 1841 ; graduated at Waterville College and set- 
tled in the city in the practice of the law. Died some years after. 

Ashhyline, b. Apr. 21, 1843. 

Clarence b. June 13, 1845; d. unmarried 1914. 

Julia, b. May 8, 1847 ; m. McLean. 

Isa G., b. Oct. 28, 1849; m. Dr. Alden C. Whitman. 

Prince B., b. Feb. 4, 1852. 

LaFayette B., b. Apr. 9, 1854; s. in Dexter as an attorney and where 
he held the office of Judge of the Municipal Court for several years. 

Wesley E., b. about 1857; m. Marinda Win slow ; s. in Paris. 



\Varren. 

Tristram Warren, a soldier in the French and Indian war, 
m. Mary Neal. They came to Bucktown from Berwick after 
Jan. I, 1784. Their first child was one of those who settled here 
before that date ; we do not know the date of their deaths. 
Children, none of whom were born here: 

John, b. May 20, 1756; m. Elizabeth Buck. 

Jane, b. May 2, 1758; m. Dominicus Record. 

Abigail, b. May 12, 1764; m. Tobias Ricker. 

Mary, b. Jan. 17, 1769. 

Edmund, h. Mar. 31, 1773; m. Lydia Glover. 

Tristram, b. Dec. 27, 1776. 

Andrew, b. Aug. 6, 1780; m. Polly Aldcn. 

Levi, b. Feb. 3, 1783. 

Lois, b. ; m. Simeon Hersey. 

John Warren (see sketch) b. May 20, 1756; m. Elizabeth 
Buck. He died June 4. 1807. Children : 
Mary, b. Feb. 15, 1782. 

John, Jr., h. Nov. 11, 1783; m. Esther Buck. 
Jane, b. Oct. 28, 1785. 

Phche, b. Aug. 30, 1787; m. Geo. W. Cushman. 
Betsey, b. Feb. 6, 1790; m. Nathaniel Bumpus. 



HISTORY OF 15UCKFJEL1) 708 

Sally, I). May 19, 1792. 

Katharine, b. Sept. 3, 1794; m. David Lane, Jr. 

James, 1). Dec. 29, 1796. 

Margaret, b. Jan. 24, 1801 ; m. Win. VV. Pool. 

Athelstaii. h. Jan. 2^, 1804; m. Jasaminc Pool. 

Edmund, brother of preceding, b. Mar. 31, 1773; m. Lydia 
Glo\er. Children : 

Xatlhiiiiel S., li. Sept. 15, 1799. 

Cyrus, h. Au.t;. 21, 1808. 

Duiiiiiiieiis R., b. June 10, 1810; m. Remember Record. 

Lydia, b. Jul.\ 4, 1812. 

Janet, 1). Mas 26, 1815 ; m. Samuel Alason, Hartford. 

AxDRKW \\'arrex, brother of preceding, b. Aug. 6, 1780; m. 
Polly Alden. Children : 

Albert, h. Feb. 12, 1805. 

Mary M., b. Oct. 16, 1806. 

Dennis, b. July 24, 1808. 
Mareiis, b. May 2;^, 1810. 

Miller, b. May to, 1812. 

Andreze, h. Jan. 21, 1814. 

Priscilla, b. Aug". 21, 1815. 

John \\'arrf.x, Jr., son of John and grandson of Tristram, 
b. Nov. II. 1783; m. Esther Buck. Children: 

Jane, b. July 19, 1805. 

John, ^^d , b. Juh' 22, 1807; m. Nanc_\- Coburn. 

Tristrain, li. Xov. 29, 1810; m. Jumalier Foster. 

Betsey, b. Dec. 17, 181 1. 

Lueetla, b. Aug. 15, 1813. 

Esther, b. Aug: 5, 1815; m. Jonas Coburn, Sumner. 

James, b. May 9, 1817. 

Ferdinana A., b. May 5, 1819; m. S\lvia I. ijartlett. 

Osmond, ]>. June 13, 1824; m. Marjjaret S. Cortbell. 

Tristram W'arrkn, son of the preceding, b. Nov. 29, 1810; 
m. Jumalier Foster. He d. Mar. 2, 1876. She d. Jan. 30, 1895, 
"aged S</." Children : 

}-raiieis M., b. Jan. 19, 1838; m. Virgil D. Ricknell. 
James A., h. July 2, 1842; m. Georgianna H. Bicknell. 

James A. Warren, son of i)receding, b. July 2, 1842; m. 
Georgianna H. Bicknell. He served in the Civil ^Var, and died 
in 1901 from disease contracted in the service. Children: 

Charles A., b. Feb. 10, 1862; m. Rosctta J. Turner. 
James IV., b. May 5, 1865; d. Sept. 16, 1871. 



704 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Kate E., b. May 22, 1867. 

Ormsby D., b. April 17, 187 — ; m. Agnes Winslow. 

Mcrton A., b. Sept. 25, 1873. 

Chares A. Warren, son of the preceding, b. Feb. 10, 1862 ; 
m. Rosetta J. Turner. He was killed in the woods Feb. 13, 
1897. Children : 

Frank E., b. July 10, 1882. 

Cerirudc E., b. Jan. 15, 1886. 

Ha::cl E., b. Dec. 17, 188S. 

Ferdinand A. Warren, son of John, Jr., b. May 5, 1819; 
m. Sylvia I. Bartlett. He Wc s for many years in the harness 
business in Buckfield, was prominent in temperance matters. He 
died Nov. 23, 1895. Children: 

Walter F., b. Oct 25, 1845. 

Alphonso F., b. Oct. 3, 1847 ; m. Elizabeth A. Young. 
Florence Z., h. May 2, 1851 ; d. Mar. 15, 1854. 
Esther J., h. May 29, 1853. 

Alphonso F. ^^'ARREN, son of the preceding, b. Oct. 3, 1847; 
m. Elizabeth A. Young. He was the drummer boy of Co. C, 23d 
Me. Infantry. Since his father's death he has carried on the 
same business in the village. Child : 

James E., b. Nov. 26, 1873 ; m. Mary E. Spauldino-. 

Osmond Warren, son of John, Jr., b. June 13, 1824; m. Mar- 
garet S. Corthell. Children: 

John, b. Jan. 30, 1851. 

Laura, b. Apr. 17, 1854. 

David Warren (see sketch) was one of the early settlers. 

He married Mary . It does not appear that he was any 

related to the family of the elder Tristram Warren. The tradi- 
tion is that he was not. He moved to Hartford where he died, 
aged 86. Children recorded on the Buckfield town records : 

Mary, b. May i, 1788. 

Hannah, h. Feb. 11, 1790. 

Mark, h. Mar. 3, 1792; d. Aug. 14, 1793. 

Eunice, h. Mar. 11, 1794; m. Col. Aaron Parsons. 

Johnston, b. Aug. 23, 1796. 

David, Jr., h. Jan. 6, 1799. 

W'ATERMAN. 
Three brothers, Jemes, Ichabod and Thomas R. Waterman, 
settled very early in Buckfield. They were sixth in descent 
from Robert^ Waterman, the American ancestor, who came to 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIL:L13 70o 

Plymouth from Norwich, England, in 1O3*). He settled at 
Green Harbor, now Marshheld. He married Dec. 11, 1638, Eliz- 
abeth, dau. of Thomas' Bourne. The line of descent to these 
brothers was Dei. John'- b. Apr. 19, 1642; m. Anne Sturtevant. 
Dea. Robert'' m. Mary, dau. of Rev. Isaac Cushman and grand- 
dau. of Elder Thomas Cushman and his wife. Mary Allerton, 
dau. of Isf.ac Allerton of the Mayflower. Josiah* b. Mar 5, 1705 ; 
m. Joanna Bryant. Ichabod"', father of these Buckfield settlers, 
b. Nov. 17, 1724; m. Hannah, dru. of Benj. and Phebe Har- 
den) Rogers, a descendant of Rev. John Rogers, who suffered 
martyrdom by being burnt r.t the stake in the reign of Bloody 
Mary. Queen of England. Children born in Kingston. Mass., 
were : 

Lydia, b. Nov. 5, 1758 (d. aged 91) ; m. Elijah Faunce. 

Benjamin, b. Aug. 8, 1760 (d. aged 85) ; m. Lucy Bradford. 

Zcnas, b. Dec. 29, 1762 (d. aged 89) ; s. in Nova Scotia. 

James, b. Mar. 21, 1765 (d. aged 96) ; m. Kezia Smith. 

Ichabod, Jr.,h. Aug. 12, 1767 (d. aged 92) ; m. Parthenia Carter. 

Hannah, h. June 9, 1770 (d. aged 79) ; m. Silas Maxim. 

Phchc, b. Dec. 30, 1771 (d. aged 76) ; m. Caleb Swift. 

Thomas R., h. Mar. 10, 1776 (d. aged 86) ; m. Molly Ellis. 

Jame.s Waterman, b. Mar. 21, 1765; m. Kezia Smith, dau. 
of Jssiel and Anna (Crossman) Smith. Children: 

Sophronia, b. May 20, 1794; m. Henry White; s. in Dixfield. 
James, Jr., b. July 23, 1796; died young. 
Lewis, h. Dec. 18, 1798; m. Abigail Bassford. 
Julia, h. Aug. 4, 1801 ; m. William Clark, Hartford. 
Nancy, b. March 14, 1803 ; m. Dr. Jonathan Norton. 

Orlza, b. ; m. Dr. Jonathan Norton, Farmington. 

ArviUa, b. ; m. Naphthali Ma.son. 

Ichabod Waterman, bro. of the preceding, m. Parthenia Car- 
ter. Returned to Massachusetts and died there. Children : 
Betsey, b. Mar. 24, 1792. 
Hannah, b. Mar. i, 1793. 
Minerva, b. Mar. 17, 1795. 
Nahum, b. Mar. 22, 1798; d. Oct. 3, 1801. 
Joanna, b. Feb. 12, 1801. 
Scth, b. Mar. 26, 1803. 

Thomas R. Waterman, bro. of the preceding, b. Mar. 10, 
1776; m. Molly Ellis. He was a blacksmith. Removed to San- 
gerville, Me., and died there. Children recorded on our records : 

Zenas, b. Dec. 5, 1802; d. in infancy. 



706 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Lysandcr, b. Dec. 5, 1802. 
Janet, b. Nov. 25, 1810. 
Charles, b. Alay 16, 1819. 

Whitman. 

The American ancestor of the \Vhitnians of Buckheld, Wood- 
stock and Turner, was John Whitman, who came from England 
(the vicinity of Cheshire, near scene of Gray's Elegy) before 
1638 and settled at Weymouth, Mass. It appears by \\ inthrop's 
Journal that he was admitted to the rights and privileges of a 
citizen in December of that year. The tradition is thf.t he left 
his family behind till he had selected a lot for :a settlement, 
cleared several acres of land and built a habitcitlon and that he 
brought his wife and children hither in 1641. 

In 1645 1^'^ ^'^'^s appointed ensign in the militia and the same 
year, with two others, wfs commissioned "to end small contro- 
versies" in that town. He served as one of the selectmen of the 
town for many years. He was a deacon of the church from the 
time one was established in Weymouth to his death, November 
13, 1692, at about 90 years of age. He left four sons and five 
daughters, Thomas, John, Zechariah, Abiah. Sf.rah, Mary, Eliz- 
abeth, Hannah rnd Judith. The oldest child was Sarah, who 
married Abraham Jones. They had a daughter, Sarah, who 
married Mordecai Lincoln of Hingham, Mass., the great-great- 
grandffther of Abraham Lincoln. Thorhas. born ir; England 
about 1629, died in 1712. Erom him were descended Congress- 
man and Chief Justice Ezekiel AVhitman, Levi Whitman, Esq., 
for 18 years State's attorney for Oxford County, and candidate 
for Congress; Sarah, wife of Governor Albion K. Parris ; and 
Rev., Marcus- Whitmr.n, the missionary, to whom now the credit 
is given for saving to the United States the territory embraced 
in the states of Washington. Oregon and Idaho. He was mas- 
sacred by the Indians in 1843. 

From John, the second son of the ancestor, are descended 
Hosea B. Whitman, for many years one of the most prominent 
citizens and selectmen of Mexico, and Harry A. Whitman, shot 
and killed by Abner D. Thorne on Paris Hill, while he was 
assisting the officers in arresting Thorne for burglr.ry. 

Rev. B. L. Whitman, former president of Colby Univer- 
sity, and president of Columbia University at \\'ashington. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 707 

D. C, Rev. Charles R. Tenney, one of the leading clergy- 
men of the Universalist denomination in Maine, and Izah 
Tenney Sanborn, teacher and matron of Kings Daughters at 
Bangor, daughter of the late Dr. Jesse Howe of Norway, are de- 
scendants of Rev. Zechariah \\'hitman, the third son of the 
ancestor, who was born in \\'eymouth in 1(344. He died in 1726. 

The Buckfield and Woodstock Whitmans are descended from 
the fourth son of the ancestor, Abiah. 

Judge Mitchell's History of Bridgewater says that more per- 
sons of this name in that town, in the early times, received a col- 
lege education, than any other. The names of a large number are 
given. The next most numerous were the Packards. 

Abiah was the youngest son, born in 1646. He married Mary 
Ford. He had the homestead and administered on the estate of 
his father. He died in his 826. year, leaving a very large estate 
for those days. His wUe had died in 171 5. Their children 
mentioned in his will are John, Zechery, Abiah, Elizabeth, Lydia, 
Mary and Eleanor. 

John was born in 1681 ; m. ist Rebecca Manley, Mar. 25, 
1713; 2d, Jean Chaplin, Sept. 4, 1750. He settled in Easton. 
By his lirst wife he had John, Terah, Rebecca, Sarah and Mary. 
By his second wife, Rebecca and Jacob. 

Jacob Whitman, born Nov. 28, 1753, m. April 13, 1777, 
Abigail Packard, b. Bridgewater, Mass., May 20, 1756. He 
served in the Continental Army. Settled in Bucktown. He died 
Dec. 29, 1842, aged 89. She died July 7, 1837. Their de- 
scendants are the only persons of the name of Whitman who 
trace their ancestry back to Abiah. Children : 

Luther, 1). Easton, Alay 5, 1778; m. Polly Berry; s. in Woodstock. 
Jacob, Jr., b. Easton, Oct. 11, 1770; m. Dorcas Berry; s. in Woostock. 
Joseph, b. Easton, Mar. 26, 1782; m. Polly Cole; s. in Woodstock. 
Calvin, b. Buckfield, May 26, 1785; m. Remember Record. 
Joshua, h. Buckfield July 4, 1788; m. Catharine Davie. 
Rebecca, b. Buckfield Mar. 31, 1791 ; m. Edward Lothrop. 
Abigail, h. Buckfield Feb. 20, 1794; m. Capt. Jonathan Cole of Wood- 
stock. 

Winchester, b. Buckfield, Oct. 11, 1798; d. Sept. 17, 1801. 

Calvin Whitman, son of Jacob, was born in llucktield May 
26, 1785. He m. April 14, 1809, Sarah, daughter of Jonathan 
and Remember (Briggs) Record. She was born Sept. 7. 1788. 
They settled first in Hebron adjoining the old hoinestcad, then 



708 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

moved to Buckfield where they hved for about 35 years, and 
finally to Paris, where he died April 9, 1857, in the S2d year of 
his age. She died at her son John's in South Paris, Dec. 29, 
1884, aged 96. Both are buried in the Lowell cemetery in 
Buckfield. Children : 

Hannah Briygs, h. Sept. 19, iSio; d. Nov. 15, 1812. 

Calvin ll'inchcstcr, h. Dec. 29, 1813; m. Elvira E. Shurtleff; s. in 
Hebron. 

John, b. Hebron Dec. 2J, 1816; m. Sarah DeAlbra Bumpus; s in 
Paris. 

Hannah Remember, b. Hebron, Oct. 15, 1819; m. Ebenezer Snell. 

Jonathan Record, b. B. Sept. 9, 1822; m. Anna M. Durell ; s. in Paris. 

Jacob Strcetcr, b. B. July 6, 1825; d. Tune, 1826. 

Augustus Mclvin, b. B. May 11, 1828; m. Nancy B. Shurtleff; s. in 
Hebron and Paris. 

Joshua Whitman, son of Jacob, was born in Buckfield July 
4, 1788. He had the homestead, on which he resided to his death. 
He m. Catharine, daughter of Simeon and Susannah (Pratt) 
Davie of Hebron, b. April 16, 1791. He died x\ugust 9, 1858. 
She died Sept. 24, 1878, in her 88th year. Children all born in 
Buckfield : 

Elhanan, b. Feb. 3, 1814; d. Alar. 15, 1816. 

Elbridge Davie, b. May 18, 1S15 ; m. Julia Ann DeCoster. 

Almeda, b. Feb. 26, 1817; m. ist, Thomas Packard; 2d, Thomas 
DeCoster ; s. in Hebron. 

Joshua Elhanan, b. Mar. 15, 1819; m. Phebe Foster. 

Elijah Packard, h. Sept. 16, 1821 ; m. Ann P. Holbrook. 

Armina, b. Feb. 18, 1824; m. Joel Foster, Jr.; s. in Hebron. 

Russell Streeter, b. Feb. 2S, 1826; m. Eliza Bicknell. 

Andrctv Jackson, b. Oct. 26, 1829; m. Nancy Jane Daggett., 

Osias, b. Sept. 13, 1831 ; m. Izah T. Hatch ; s. in Red Wing, Minn. 

Rosana Catharine, b. Mar. 19, 1834; m. Abijah Foster. 

Dora Packard, b. Sept. 10, 1837; m. ist, Flenry C. Long; 2d, Henry 
E. Hay; s. in Lynn, Mass. 

Elbridge D. Whitman, son of Joshua and Catharine 
(Davie) Whitman, b. May 18, 1815, m. Julia Ann, dau. of 
Rogers and Betsey (Rowe) DeCoster, b. May 6, 1819. He d. 
in 1885. She d. Aug. 20, 1880. Children all born in Buckfield: 

Abel Cyrus Thomas, h. June, 1838; m. Betsey Packard; 2d Elsie E. 
Packard. 

John C, b. Feb. 21, 1840; m. ist, Ella Farris ; 2d, Eva Chase; r. in 
Rumford; 4 c. by ist wife: Leon, Henry, Agnes and Ella. 

Elizabeth A., b. Aug. 13, 1841; m. James A. Russell; s. in Hebron. 




Victor Whitman 

Victor M. Whitman Verne M. Whitman 

Charles F. Whitman 



HISTORY OF P.UCKFIELI) 711 

U'illiaiii .v., b. Sept. jS, 1843; <^i- J^in- --'8, 1859. 
Henrietta, h. Mar. 8, 1846; d. Sept. 28, 1847. 

Eli::a Ann, Xuv. 12, 1848; m. Charles D. Snell ; i c., Wiimiired D. 
Emma Eldora, h. Sept. 11, 1853; m. Caleb B. Farris; s. in Hebron; 
4 e., Mclvin Rogers, Iva. Guy and Cyrenia. 

Abel C. T. Whitman, oldest son of the preceding, m. 1 Ikt- 
sey Packard. She died in Sept.. 1805, and he married 2d her 
sister, Elsie Ellen. Children : 

Henrietta, h. Jnne 2, 1865; m. Chas. Rand. 
Elsie S., b. Sept. 4, 1868; m. Alton Crooker. 
Florence Mabel, b. Dec. 26, 1869; m. Oscar Eastman. 
John T., b. Jan. 15, 1871 ; d. Jnne 19, 18S2. 
Claude AL, b. Feb. 2^, 1875; m. Xellie J. Tnrner. 

Joshua E. A\'hitman, son of Joshua and grandson of Jacob, 
the Re\ olutionary Patriot, b. March 15, 1819; m. Phebe, daughter 
of Joel and Martha (Lothrop) Foster b. July 21, 1822. 

His father selected him to take care of his parents in their 
old age. He never sought office or public position but was well 
informed on matters pertaining to state and natiori. A man of 
the utmost integrity, he wfs loved and respected by all. and par- 
ticularly the young. He resided on the old homestead till 1864, 
when he mo\ed into the western part of the town. His wife, 
named for her grandmother, Phebe (Buck) Foster, was ecjually 
lo\'ed and admired. Her whole life was devoted to the happi- 
ness of others. She died April 5, 1897. He died suddenly when 
going home from his oldest son's. June 7, 1900, in the 82d year 
of his age. Children : 

Henry Wilson, b. Jnne 8, 1843; m. Martha M. Dnnn. 
Alden Chase, b. Nov. 15, 1846; m. Isa Gertrude Waldron. 
Charles hosier, b. Feb. 6, 1848; m. Mary A. Dinsmore. 
Ellis, b. Apr. 13, 1850; m. Cora R. Record. 

Henry Wilson Whitman, oldest son of the preceding, born 
June 8, 1843; m. Aug. 20, 1864, Martha M. Dunn, daughter of 
Af.ron and Martha (Foster) Dunn of South Paris. He set- 
tled in the western part of Buckfield on the highway to South 
Paris where he has become one of the most prosperous farmers 
of the town. No issue. 

Dr. Alden Chase W^hitman (see physicians), brother of 
the preceding, was born Nov. 15, 1846. He married ist, July 4, 
1871, Isa Gertrude, daughter of James c.nd Sarah (Hanson) 



712 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

W'aldron; 2d, Mrs. Lucretia M. (Beal) Blondel of Topsham. 
Children by ist wife: 

Launcclot, b. Aug. 14, 1879; died in infancy. 
Plaistcd J., b. Nov. 12, 1880; m. Ethel Reynolds. 
Geraldine Gertrude, b. Jan. 14, 1889; m. Lewis E. Green. 

Child by 2d wife: 

Phcbe Priscilla, d. abt. 3 years of age. 

Charles Foster \\'hitm.\n (see biographical sketch) is the 
third son of Joshua E. and Phebe (Foster) Whitman. He was 
born in Buckfield Feb. 6, 1848; m. Aug. 27, 1867, Mary A., 
daughter of x-Vnsel and Judith C. (Morse) Dinsmore of Norway 
born May 18, 1848. Children: 

Victor Mcliiottc, h. Buckfield, June 21, 1869; d. Nov. 17, 1876. 
Verne Mortier, b. Buckfield Mar. 14, 1871 ; m. Molly Wren Maloney. 
Victor Mertoii, h. Norway Sept. 22, 1877; m. Jessie L. Dinsmore. 

Prof. Verne M. Whitman, son of Charles F. and Mary A. 
Whitman, was born in Buckfield March 14, 1871. He fitted for 
college at the Norway High School and entered Colby University 
in the autumn of 1890, where he took high rank and was one of 
the inost popular of the students. He graduated in 1894, and, 
securing a position as principal of the High School at Calais, he 
went there to teach. He was there some six years. In 1900 he 
married Mollie \\'ren, daughter of Capt. John and Amy (Stev- 
enson) Maloney of St. Andrews, N. B. They have one child, 
Victor, born at Canton, Me., April 5, 1901. Mr. W. is now 
(191 5) principal of the High school at Laconia, N. H. 

Victor Mertox Whitman, brother of the pieceding, was 
born at Norway Sept. 22, 1877. He fitted for college at the Nor- 
way High School, where he graduated with honors in 1895. He 
did not choose to enter college, but secured a position on the 
Boston and Maine Railroad, where he was for several years. He 
m. April 21, 1904, Jessie Lyla, daughter of Charles W. and Car- 
rie (Tee) Dinsmore, b. January 27,, 1877. Residence. Norway, 
Maine. 

Ellis Whitman, youngest son of Joshua E. and Phebe 
(Foster) AX'hitman was born on the old homestead in Buckfield 
April 13, 1850. He took c?-re of his parents and had the estate. 
He married Mar. i, 1874, Cora R., daughter of Benj. Harrison 
and Phebe (Irish) Record. She was b. Feb. 26, 1859. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 715 

Mr. Whitman is a very prosperous farmer and one of the 
leading citizens in his section of the town. He has served sev- 
eral years, on the board of selectmen and assessors, and as col- 
lector of taxes. Children : 

Harold E., h. April 30, 1889. 

Flora E., b. April 30, 1889. 

Elijah P. Whitman, son of Joshua, m. Ann P., daughter 
of John and Patty (Prentiss) Holbrook of Stoughton, Mass., 
b. Sept. 25, 1825. He settled at Buckfield village ,where he 
worked at his trade of a shoemaker till his death March 11, 1877. 
He was an intellectual man and was among the pioneers in the 
temperance reform and anti-slavery movements. His widow m. 
2d Charles Beals, residence Auburn, Me. She died in 1912. 
Children : 

Ella Frances, b. Oct. 9, 1849; m. Oscar G. Chandler; s. in Sumner. 

Cora Lcc, b. July 5, 1857; m. Oscar V. Miller; s. in Auburn. 

Russell S. Whitman, son of Joshua, m. Eliza, daughter of 
Luke and Orris (DeCoster) Bicknell. He resided on the old 
homestead in Buckfield till his death Oct. 6, 1892. She died 
Mar. 17, 1892. They had one child, Mary Ellen, b. March 19, 
1854. She m. 1st, Chas. W. Cummings of Paris. He died Oct. 
17, 1880. She m. 2d, George L. Seavey. Resides in Auliurn. 
No issue. 

Andrew J. Whitman, son of Joshua, m. Nancy Jane, 
daughter of Horace and Jane (Coburn) Daggett, b. Nov. 5, 
1832. Residence, Buckfield, where he died Feb. 25, 1866. She 
died at Auburn, Me., in the autumn of 1900. Children: 

Ida May, b. April 15, 1858; d. July 14, 1858. 

Ada Lee, b. Jan. 8, i860; resides in Auburn; unmarried. 

Elmer Ellsworth, b. April i, 1862; d. Nov. 9, 1863. 

Prof. Ozias Whitman, son of Joshua, b. Sept. 13, 1831 ; m. 
Izah T. Hatch of Norway, b. Aug. 18, 1842. He graduated at 
Waterville College at the head of his class. For many years he 
taught in the principal academies of the state, and attained great 
popularity as an instructor. His wife has been equally successful 
as a teacher. They went West and settled in Red Wing, Minne- 
sota. He is now (191 5) in the Weather Bureau service at St, 
Paul, Minn., a position he has held for many years. No issue. 



716 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

WiNSLOW. 

Amos Winslow was a shipbuilder at Freeport, Me., prior 
to his setthng in Buckfield. He worked at the trade of a tanner 
after coming here, but finally married and settled down on a farm 
in the western part of the town. He was born at Freeport Sept. 
II, 1791. Amos Winslow was 6th in descent from Kenelem\ a 
brother of Governor Edward Winslow, who came over in the 
Mayflower with the other Pilgrims and settled at Plymouth, 
Mass. Amos Winslow married in 181 3, Ruhama Churchill, 
daughter of the old Revolutionary soldier Jabez and his wife, 
Maria (Benson) Churchill. She was born Feb. i, 1794. He 
died Jan. 6, 1855. She died quite aged. Children : 

Solomon, b. Aug. 21, 1819; d. in Paris Nov. 20, 1895; unmarried. 
Hiram, b. Mar. 12, 1822; m. Elmira E. Colburn; s. in Ann Arbor, 
Mich. 

Stephen, b. Aug. 19, 1824; d. in Buckfield Feb. 21, 1898; unmarried. 
Maria, b. Dec. 22, 1826; m. N. Greenleaf Bumpus ; s. in Paris. 
Marinda, b. Aug. 17, 1829; m. Wm. A. Coburn ; s. in Dedham, Mass. 
George C, h. July 12^ 1832; m. Lydia Lamrock ; 5. in Norway. 
Amos K., b. July 28, 1834; m. Melissa Jordan. 

George Clinton Winslow, son of the preceding, b. July 12, 
1832 ; m. Lydia, daughter of John and Letitia (Henderson) Lam- 
rock. He settled first in Paris, but finally moved to Norway 
where he lived to his death, Oct. 14, 1877. Child: 

Edu'ard Clinton IVinslozn.', b. in Paris Nov. 29, 1862. After graduat- 
ing with honors from the Norway High School, he entered the store of 
C. N. Tubbs & Co., as clerk. His integrity and strict attention to busi- 
ness, soon won the confidence of his employers. He is now (1915) clerk 
in the. hardware store of Longley & Butts, Norway. Jan. 14, 1885, he 
married Sarah Ellda, daughter of James M. and Christina (Richards) 
Wilson, b. in Oxford, Me., Feb. 6, 1862. They have one child, Rayjnond 
Edward, b. April 19, 1902. 

Amos Kendall Winslow, youngest son of Amos b. July 28, 
1834; m. Mehssa, daughter of Isaac and Louisa (Monk) Jordan. 
He settled on a farm near the old hoinestead in the western part 
of Buckfield. Children : 

Lelia, b. Sept. 23, 1857 ; m. Clarence E. Foster. 

Marinda, b. Mar. 14, 1859; m. Wesley E. Waldron ; s. in Paris. 

Lorcna, b. Jan. 2, 1865 ; m. John Pettengill ; d. 1913. 

Agnes, b. ; m. Ormsby D. Warren. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 717 

Woodbury. 

Benjamin ^^'ooDBUR\^ the Revolutionary soldier, ^vas de- 
scended from John^ Woodbury, who came to Gloucester, Mass., 
from Somersetshire, England, in 1624. Benjamin was sixth in 
descent from John, and was b. Oct. 31, 1761. His father was 
Joshua, who married Abigail Parks. Benjamin m. Rhoda Col- 
lins at Southboro and moved to the northwestern part of Buck- 
field about 1800. The farm he settled on was set into i'aris in 
1828. He died in 1849 in Buckfield. Children recorded in 
Buckfield records : 

Kate, b. Sept. 24, 1786; m. Calvin Cole. 
Lticinda, b. Jan. 4, 1789; m. Abraham Doble. 
Sarah, b. Dec. 17, 1790; m. Luther Stiles. 
Collins, b. Feb. 13, 1793; m. Pamelia Andrews. 
Benjamin, Jr., b. Xov. 10, 1795 ; d. in Illinois. 
Charles, b. Jan. 18, 1798; d. young. 
Ruth, b. Apr. 14, 1800; m. Ira York. 
Mary C, b. Oct. 26, 1802 ; m. William Greenleaf . 
Asa, b. May i, 1805; m. ist, Tacy Tuttle ; 2d, Victoria N. Hathaway. 
Charlotte, b. May 4, 1808; m. Lorenzo D. Mason. 

Cliarles, h. Aug. 20, 1S12; m. ist, Hannah Bemis; 2d, Catharine 
Bemis. 



Young. 

Joshua Young (see sketch) and wife Sarah Irish, settled in 
the southeast part of the township, and he was here in time to 
acquire without purchrse 100 acres of land from the Common- 
wealth. He appears to have been an older brother of Caleb. 
He was also a Revolutionary soldier, and it is said was at 
Bunker Hill. He died about 1825. (Dec. 23, 1824 (?).) He 

was twice me.rried; ist to Sarah at Wellfleet, Mass., and 

had one child, Joshua, Jr. She died and he m. 2d June 13, 1/79, 
Sarah Irish, dau. of John, sen. Children : 

Joshua, Jr., b. Xov. 13, 1775- 

Benjamin, h. July 22, 1780; m. Mercy Richardson. 

Lucius, b. Feb. 21, 1782. 

Ehenczer, b. Aug. 23, 1784; m. Patience . 

Isaac, b. Sept. 24, 1785 ; m. Anna Brown. 
Betsey, b. Aug. 6, 1787; m. Wm. Brown. 
Moses, b. Aug. 31, 1789; m. Vesta Drake. 
Sarah, b. Feb. 27, 1792; m. Gilbert Tuell. 



718 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Ebexezer Young^ son of Joshua, the Revolutionary soldier, 
b. Aug. 2T,, 1782; ni. Patience . Children: 

Hiram, b. Jan. 22, 1807. 
Sally, b. Nov. 7, 1808. 

Moses Young, bro. of the preceding, b. Aug. 31, 1789; m. 
Vesta Drake. He died Feb. 26, 1853. Children: 

Lucius, h. Oct. 6, 1816; m. Salina D. Staples. 

Lucy, h. Aug. 11, 1821 ; m. Silas Mitchell. 

Sarah Jane, b. Nov. i, 1825 ; m. Edmund Hutchinson. 

Lucius Young, son of the preceding, b. Oct. 6, 1816; m. 
Salina D. Staples. Children : 

Ellen Maria, b. Feb. 24, 1839; m. Cyrus C. Spaulding. 

James H., b. Nov. 16, 1841. 

Lucius L., b. Jan. 9, 1843. 

Elisabeth Ann, b. Mar. 3, 1850; m. Alphonso F. Warren. 

James H. Young, son of the preceding, b. Nov. 16, 1841 ; m. 

. Child : 

John L., b. Jan. 28, 1875. 

Caleb Young (see sketch) and wife, Mary, settled in the 
eastern part of the tov^-nship prior to 1784. He was a soldier in 
the War of the Revolution. He died Feb. 26, 1830, in the 83d 
year of his age. Children : 

Sarah, b. Dec. 9, 1785; m. Daniel Russell (?). 

Charles, b. Aug. 23, 1787. 

Abigail, b. Jan. 18, 1798. 

Isaac, h. Mar. 5, 1793; m. Delia Tobin. 

Mary, h. Mar. 5, 1793; m. Joseph Robinson. 

Benjamin, b. June 15, 1795; m. Eliza B. Harden (?) 

Joshua, h. Tune 5, 1797; m. Nancy Hussey. 

Isaac Young, son of the preceding, b. Mar. 3, 1791, m. Delia 
Tobin. Children : 

Elisabeth Irish, b. Mar. 22, 1834. 
L<;aac Bray, b. Dec. 9, 1836. 



HISTORY OF BTCKFIELD 719 

FROM TOWN RECORDS. 



Families Not Reported — Many Xtemovecl to Other Places. 



Childron of Freeman G. (son of Jacob) and Anna G. Allen: Alice W.. 
b. Jan. 8, 1854; George Freeman, b. May 5. 1856; Julia Ann, b. Oct. 11, 1862, 
d. April 24, 1864. 

Children of Hamden A., son of Alpheus and Hannah (Seabury), b. 1823 
and Hannah (Skillins) Allen: Emily, Maria. Hamden, Sidney, Lebbeus, 
Jane. Oscar and Lois. 

Children of Lebbeus T. and Pauline E. (Murdock) Allen; :Mary B., b. 
June 16, 1845. m. Alvin Reed; Charles S.. b. Dec. 30, 1S56; m. Ada Gar- 
land. 

Children of Ichabod and Mary Allen: Winslow Hooper, b. July 16, 
184 7; Eleanor Augusta, b. Jan. 29, 1849; Cynthia P., b. June 6, 1852; James 
Monroe, b. Jan. 21, 1854. 

Children of Mark and Ruth (Parris) Andrews: Bela. b, March 16, 1785; 
Mark, Nov. 13, 1786; Mehltable. b. Sept. 22, 1788; Polly, b. Sept. 6, 1791; 
Milliscent Parris. b. Mar. 2«. 1795; Josiah Parris, b. Aug. 1, 1799; Ruth, b. 
Aug. 21. 1801. 

Children of Samuel and Hannah (Smith) Andrews; Zilpha. b. June 7, 
1794; Sophia, b. June 25. 1796. 

Children of Ebenezer and Mehitablo Austin: Ebenezer. b. Mar. 21, 1790;- 
John, b. Dec. 17, 1791; Su.sanna, b. Aug. 19, 1793; Zadoc, b. Mar. 30, 1796; 
Esther, b. May 29, 1798; Daniel, b. Jan. 31, 1801. 

Children of Daniel and Vesta Austin (He d. Jan. 29, 1868); Hiram, b. 
Nov. 6, 1831. d. Feb. 23, 1838; Vesta, b. Nov. 24, 1833, m. Chas. O. God- 
win; Leonard, b. Apr. 28, 1835; Julia, b. Oct. 24, 1837; Rosania, b. Apr. 25, 
1839; Daniel, b. Mar. 17, 1842; Greenville, b. Jan. 17, 1845; Alonzo, b. Feb. 
7, 1847; Marcellus. b. Aug. 20, 1851; William, b. Apr. 13, 1853. 

Children of Leonard and Arvilla Austin: Maria, b. May 5, 1858; For- 
rest M., b. Dec. 27, 1860; Willis W., b. Nov. 16, 1863; Minnie L., b. Feb. 
18, 1865; Leonard, b. Mar. 5, 1867; Carroll H.. b. Apr. 3, 1869. 

Children of John and Rebecca (Packard) Bisbee (He was drowned in 
the Androscoggin river abt. 1810. The widow in 1817 m. Abijah Buck): 
Ambrose, b. May 24, 1799; Martin, b. Feb. 5, 1800; Cyrenia. b. Feb. 17, 
1802; Cyprian, b. Apr. 20, 1804; Anna Perkins, b. Sept. 5, 1807. 

Children of Martin and Sophia (Cushman) Bisbee: Persis, b. Oct. 19, 
1826; Cyrenia, b. Aug. 14, 1828. 

Children of Stephen, b. Jan. 25, 1773, and Elizabeth Bosworth. b. Feb. 
17, 1781; m. Jan. 30, 1803; Eliza, b. Apr. 7, 1804; Alonzo, b. Jan. 1. 
1806; d. Feb. 25. 1809; Stephen W., b. Sept. 25, 1807, com. suicide June 2. 
1855; Jacob B., b. Sept 28. 1809; Daniel, b. Dec. 31, 1811. 

Children of George and Myrtilla (Cole) Bridgham: George G., b. Mar. 
11, 1835; Georgianna. b. July 27, 1837; Emily G., b. Apr. 29, 1840. 

Children of Hanson ( s. of John and g. s. of Amos) and Sarah D. 
(Churchill) Brown (he d. Mar. 3, 1893; she d. July 6. 1899): VVjn. H. H.. b. 
Apr. 26. 1840; Helen; George W.; Eliab, b. Jan. 22, 1852. 

Children of Moses (son of Wm.) and Susanna Brown (he d. Apr. 20, 
1857; she d. Apr. 7, 1857): Wm. F., b. Mar. 23, 1835; Lucius, b. Sept. 27, 
1836; Moses, b. Oct. 15, 1840; Susanna, b. Aug. 28. 1844. 

Children of Morris (son of Wm.) and Fanny Brown: Betsey, b. Nov. 
24. 1832; Elvira, b. July 25. 1837. m. Levi Jordan; Amanda M.. b. INIar. 
4. 1840. d. Aug. 28, 1849; Lucy E'.len. b. May 8, 1845. 



720 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Children of John (s. of John and g. s. of Amos) and Ursula Urown: 
Alonzo, b. abt. 1S38; Fernando, b. abt. 1840; Henry and Henrietta, twins, 
b. abt. 1842; Rhoda, b. Dec. 23, 1844; James, Aug. 23. 1847; Mary, b. 
Mar. 27, 1S49; Amelia, b. Mar. 8, 1851; Ella, b. Feb. 8, 1853; Charles', b. 
July 26, 1855; Ada L., b. May 3, 1857. 

Children of Levi and Lydia Bryant: Clarissa, b. Jan. 0, 1783, m. 
Nathaniel Gammon; George, b. Aug. 22, 1784; Mercy, b. June t>, 17SB; 
Elizabeth, b. Mar. 29, 1788; Levi, b. Feb. 6, 1792; Pelhani, b. Dec. 27, 1794; 
m. Clarissa Record; Fanny, b. Jan. 12, 1796; Lucia, b. Feb. 19, 1799; 
Marcia, ta. Aug. 20, 1801; Ephraim G., b. abt. 1804. 

Children of Nathaniel, Jr., and Sarah Buck (he d. abt. 1837); Benj. T., 
b. May 7, 1798; Eliab, b. Aug. 19, 1800, m. Eleanor Buck. s. in Foxcroft; 
Sophia, b. June 6, 1802; Rachel, b. Dec. 10, 1804; Nathaniel, b. May 17, 
1807; Paul, b. Feb. 14, 1809. 

Children of Moses (s .of Nath'l, pioneer) and Sally Buck: Olive, b. 
Dec. 10, 1799; Ira Brown, b. April 10, 1802; Polly, b. Apr. 29, 1804; Elmira. 
b. Apr. 26, 1806; Irene, b. May 31, 1808; Moses, b. Aug. 22, 1811. 

Children of William and Martha (Record) Campbell (he d. in 
Sangerville, past 80): Sally, b. June 20, 1805; William, b. July 17, 1807; 
Romilla, b. Sept. 1, 1809; Rodolphus R., b. Sept. 18, 1811; Otis W.. b. Feb. 
1, 1814; Andrew, b. Apr. 21, 1816; Sam'l R., b. June 8, 1818; Dominicus R., 
b. Dec. 10, 1820. 

Children of Ebenezer and Martha Carey: Hannah, b. March 26, 1796; 
Ichabod, b. Aug. 22. 1797; Zenas, b. April 3, 1799; Remember, b. Feb. 26, 
iSOl; Polly, b. Sept. 16. 1802. 

Children of John and Martha (Crockett) Carsley: Ebenezer, b. May 7, 
1792; Sarah, b. May 25. 1794; Rachel, b. Apr. 8, 1796; Fanny, b. Mar. 25, 
1798; Mercy, b. May 13, 1800; Freeman and Daniel, twins, b. Sept. 14, 1808. 

Children of John and Nancy Chaffln: Henrietta DeAlbra, b. Nov. 29, 
1800, m. Capt. Jonathan Buck; John. b. Apr. 20, 1804; Anna, b. Sept. 
16, 1806; Rodney, b. Dec. 12, 1808; Geo. G.. b. June 30. 1813, m. 1st. 
Betsey Bonney, 2d Bethiah Lothrop; Hannah S., b. Feb. 25, 1816; Ado- 
niram J., b. Sept. 6, 1819. 

Children of Rodney and Mary (Waldron) ChafRn: Mary A., b. Dec. 1, 
1826. m. Joseph D. Fuller; John M., b. Sept. 6, 1828; Mary E., b. Dec. 21, 
1830; Daniel H.. b. Aug. 28. 1832. 

Children of Adoniram J. and Lydia (Bean) Chaffln: Nancy D.. b. Dec. 

30, 1842; Abana, b. Dec. 2, 1845; Fred L.. b. Sept. 11. 1850. 

Children of Edmund and Anna Chandler: Barnabas, b. Jan. 20, 1773; 
Rebekah, b. Oct. 1, 1777; Lucy, b. Nov. 21, 1779; Anna, b. April 1. 1782; 
Huldah. b. June S. 1789; Mary, b. April 5, 1791; Christopher, by 2d wife, 
Hannah, b. Oct. 18, 1794. 

Children of William (Rev. Sol.) and Lydia Churchill: Lydia, b. Dec. 
13, 1784; Polly, b. June 1. 1788; Benj., b. July 22, 1791; Wm., b. Aug. 5. 
1797. 

Children of Asaph (bro. of ^^'m.) and Polly Churchill: Asaph, b. July 

31, 1803; Hiram, b. Aug. 20. 1808; Nathaniel, b. May 28. 1810; Elbridge. b. 
Jan. 28. 1812; Betsey D.. b. Jan. 22. 1814. m. Martin Churchill; Albert, b. 
May 21. 1816: Polly, b. May 26. 1818; Nancy m. an Emery. They had a 
son an officer in the U. S. Navy. 

Children of Asaph (s. of Martin) and Fanny (Murch) Churchill: Fanny, 
b. 1871, m. a Tucker; Asaph, 1874, m. a Lovejoy; Jennie, 1875, m. a Jewell, 
in U. S. Navy; Howard, 1877; Ernest, 1880; Fred, 1882; Harriet, 1885; 
Blora Belle. 1887; Lizzie. 1888. 

Children of William L. and Cordelia (Allen) Cole: Cordelia M., b. Oct. 
29, 1842; Bertrand, b. Feb. 2, 1845. 



^S9 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 721 

Children of Aurelius V. and Lucy A. (Hall) Cole: Willis H. b. Jan. 6, 
1851; Charles V.. b. Aug. 3, 1852. 

Children of Sampson and laetsey Cole (he d. Apr. 28, 1841, she d. in 
1832): Sylvia, b. ,Iune 10. 1814. d. Feb. 22, 1852; Osgood, b, July 16, 1818; 
Hannah, b. Sept. 26, 1821; Augusta Prince, b. June 4, 1823, m. George 
Bennett. 

Children of Lewis and Abigail Cole: Algernon L., b. Nov. 27. 1817; 
Hiram F.. b. May 18. 1820; Ossian L., Aug. 4, 1823; Erastus M.. b. Jan. 
10, 1825. 

Children of John and Hannah Cressey (he d. Apr. 30. '63): Wm. X.. 
b. Dec. 12, 1818, m. Mary Fletcher; Jane H., b. Oct. 18. 1820, m. J. H. Hall; 
Sarah Ann, b. June 20, 1822; Margaret, b. June 6, 1824, m. Cha.s. G. 
Davis;, Hannah b. June 26, 1826, m. Reuben L. Farrar; Mary, b. June 7, 
1828; John, b. May 24, 1829, m. Melissa Spaulding; Benj., b. Feb. 3, 1832, m. 
Cynthia S. Keen; Isaiah, b. Apr. 10, 1834; Mercy B., b. Jan. 24, 1837, d. 
July, 1838 

Children of Lemuel and Rachel (Foster) Crooker: Rebekah, b. Oct. 19, 
1773; Lydia, b. Jan. 18, 1776; Seth, b. Apr. 3, 1778; Rachel, b. Apr. 3, 
1782; Margaret, b. Mar. 20. 1784, m. Adam Richardson; Lemuel, b. Mar. 28, 
1787; Elizabeth, b. May 21, 1792; Patience, b. Apr. 12. 1795; Melinda, b. 
Oct. 16, 1800. 

Children of Gen. Henry and Sarah (Rust) Farwell (pub. Deo. 16. 
1808, d. Dixfield Feb. 21. 1847): Thaddeus Henry, b. Jan. 15, 1810; 
Grosvenor Prescott, b. Dec. 1, 1811; Edward Augustus Ferdinand, b. Sept. 
12, 1814; Oliver Smith, b. Sept. 18, 1817. 

Children of Nicholas and Mary Fernald: Mary, b. Feb. 20. 1774; Tim- 
othy, b. March 23, 1785; Samuel, b. June 30, 1789; Katherine, b. Feb. 16. 
1792. 

Children of Zadoc and Judith Forbes: Bethiah, b. Oct. 17, 1797; Eze- 
kiel. b. May 20. 1799, d. 1876; Nathan, b. Feb. 18, 1801; Rebecca, Jan. 25, 
1804; Arvilla, b. Mar. 10. 1807; Daniel, b. Mar. 24. 1811; Elizabeth, b. Mar. 
24, 1812; Myrinda, b. July 24, 1815; Susan, b. Aug. 27, 1817. 

Children of Abraham and Frances Harding: Orin, b. Mar. 19, 1792; 
Abraham, b. April 6. 1794; Crocker, b. May 5, 1796; Harvey, born May 28, 
1798; Isaac Foster, b. Mar. 31, 1802; Eliza Bonney. b. Apr. 5. 1804; Lucy, 
b. June 21, 1806; Lyman, b. Oct. 2, 1807. 

Children of James and Abigail Hussey: Sally, b. Feb. 11. 1792: Simeon, 
b. Aug. 28. 1793; Betsey, .b Dec. 6, 1795; Patty, b. Dec. 28, 1797; Nancy, b. 
Jan. 19, 1800; Natie, b. Jan. 6, 1802; Margery, b. Dec. 18. 1803; Rhoda and 
James, b. Nov. 28, 1804; Frances, b. Feb. 6, 1810. 

Children of Varanes D. and Zoa Irish: Martha, b. Oct. 23, 1879; Henry 
C, b. July 3. 1882; Clinton F., b. Nov. 29, 1884. 

Children of Abel (son of Stephen) and Adaline (Bard) Irish: 

I. Jerome B., b. Dec. 1, 1849; m. Sarah E. Thurlow. two ch.. Arthur 
E.. b. July 26. 1880, and Lucinda A., b. Feb. 25, 1882. 
11. Lucinda S.. b. Dec. 11. 1851; m. Charles Lucas. 

Children of Thomas and Molly Joselyn: Thomas S.. b. Nov. 30. 1785: 
Molly, b. July 22. 1788; Solomon, b. Nov. 4. 1790; Samuel, b. July 5, 1792; 
Enoch, b. Dec. 6, 1796. 

Children of Josiah and Eunice Keen: Simeon, b. Aug. 17, 1796; Nathan- 
iel, b. Oct. 15. 1799; Nancy, b. July 25, 1805; Josiah, b. Aug. 27! 1808. 

Children of Enoch and Mary (Cilley) Leathers: Benjamin, b. Sept. 4, 
1789: Anna, b. April 15, 1791; Eleanor, b. Feb. 22. 1793; Enoch, b. Jan. 29. 
1795: Mary, b. Feb. 3, 1797. Family removed to Sangerville, Me. 

Children of Thomas and Susanna Lincoln: Ebenezer, b. Apr. 23, 1795! 
Lucy, b. Nov. 27. 1796; Betsey, b. June 5, 1799; Thomas Foster, b. Apr. 15, 
1801; Susanna, b. March 4, 1805. 



722 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Children of Caleb and Hannah (Cilley) Lombard: William, b. Feb. IS, 
1784; Peter, b. Aug. 8, 1795; Lydia, b. Apr. 2, 1797. 

Children of James and Jane Manwell: Rebekah, b. Feb. 4, 17S8; Ben- 
jamin, b. Mar. 21, 1790; Jairu.s, b. Apr. 14, 1792; John, b. Sept. 28, 1796. 

Children of Daniel and Olive Merrill: Daniel, b. April 2, 1794; Erving-. 
b. Feb. 19, 1801. 

Children of Philemon, Jr., and Mary Parsons: George, b. Dec. 17, 
1795; Joseph, b. June 11, 1797; Moses, b. Oct. 12, 1798; Betsey, b. June 10, 
1800; Mark, b. Mar. 1, 1802; Peggy, b. Oct. 19, 1806; Rebekah, b. Mar. 5, 
1807; John. b. April 10. 1811, d. June. 1812; Abigail, b. Feb. 14, 1813; Polly. 
b. Nov. 26, 1817. 

Children of William and Martha Reynolds: William, b. Aug. 9, 1792; 
Nathan, b. June 27. 1794; Zopher, b. Nov. 18, 1796; Zebedee, b. Oct. 1, 1800. 

Children of Ephraim and Martha Spencer: Samuel, b. Aug. 30, 1799; 
Ichabod, b. Dec. 10. 1801; Stephen, b. Jan. 30, 1804. 

Children of James and Martha Thompson (he d. Dec. 23, 1855): James, 
b. 1801; Jere S.. b. 1803; Betsey, 1805; Wm. N.. 1806; Polly, 1808; Adam, 
1810; Jane, 1811; John, 1812; Robert, Sally. His wife d. and he re-mar- 
ried. Children by 2d wife: James, b. Aug. 10. 1837, and Margaret, ni. 
Jonathan Gammon. Robert Thompson, b. abt. 1814; d. Nov. 8, 1868; 6 ch., 
Sarah Ann. b. 1829, d. 1833; Geo. H., b. 1830; Enoch P.. ta. 1831; Adeliza. 
b. 1837; Wm. Henry, d. young, and Harriet, 1841. 

Children of Samuel and Margaret (Legrow) Tobin: Joseph, b. ]Mar. 10, 
1789; Benjamin, b. Mar. 14. 1791; Deliverance, b. April 25, 1793; IXIatthew, 
b. July 9, 1795. 

Children of Joseph and Esther Tyler: Desdemona. b. May 23, 1794; Bet- 
sey, b. Aug. 5, 1796. 

Children of David and Mary Warren: Mary, b. May 1, 1788; Hannah, b. 
Feb. 11, 1790; Mark, b. Mar. 3, 1792, d. Aug. 14, 1793; Eunice, b. Mar. 11, 
1794; Johnston, b. Aug. 3, 1796; David. Jr., b. Jan. 6, 1799. 

Children of Joshua and Deborah Westcott: Simeon, b. Nov. 2, 1766; 
Ephraim, b. Sept. 14, 1770; Eunice, b. Aug. 29. 1773; Nancy, b. March 31. 
1777; Betsey, b. Mar. 3. 1781; Levi, b. Jan. 31, 1785. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 728 



RECORD OF DEATHS 

From 
1867 to 1901 

Kept by 

Mrs. Emma A. Alason, 

North BuckfiGld. 



jMar. 16. '63, Capt. Isaac Turner. — Mar. 29, '59, Margaret Turner. 63 
yrs. — Miss Hezediah Crocker Foster, Sept. 23, '63, aged 72. — Mrs. Phetae 
(Buck) Foster, Nov. 12, '63, aged 97. — Charles Bicknell, June 13, '64. — 
Elisha Buck, Mar. 24, '54. — Mrs. Esther Warren, Feb. 8 '66, S3 years 4 
mos. — Tamar Brock, April 16, '66, 81 yrs. 5 mos. 16 d. — Luther Turner, 
Jan. 23. 78 years, 9 mos., 21 d. — Mar. 30, '67, Hope Leonard, 71. 

1868. 
Apr. S, Ephraim Harlow. — May 4, Mrs. Gideon Cushman. — May 26. Har- 
vey Bowker. — June 6, Mrs. Amos Tucker. — June 16, Whitmore Bowker. — 
July 6, Hanipleton Thayer. — July 31, George Evans. — Aug. 6, Elizabeth 
Pearsons. — Sept. 24, Augustus Buck. — Nov. 13, Roscoe Buck. 

1869. 

Jan. 23. Old Lady Cobb. — Mar. 2, Rolan Foster. — Apr. 24, Arabella 
Evans. — May 9, Ellen Buck. — May 14, George H. Johnson. — May 
16, Melzer Buck. — May 28, Old Mrs. Merrill. — June 31, Elijah Jordan.— 
Aug. 12, Mrs. Samuel Harlow. — Aug. 31, Uncle Jacob Allen. — Oct. 17, 
Arvilla S. Mason, 57 yr. — Oct. 23, Mrs. Benj. Maxim. — Oct. 27, James 
Bicknell, 67 yrs. 

1870. 

Apr. 11, Mrs. Asia Howard. — May 24, Capt. Josepli Turner. — May 31, 
Levi Monk, 41 yrs., 7 mos., 5 d. — Jan. 13, Old Mrs .Dean. — 14, Mrs. 
Caleb Cushman. — Sept. 3, Ira Gardner. — Sept. 8, Mrs. Dr. Pinkney Bridg- 
ham, Mrs. Harriet Buck. — Sept. 26, Mr. Estes Barrows killed. 

1871. 
Jan. 24, Mr. Noah Hall. — Mar. 15, Alice M. White. — Apr. 27, Mrs. Han- 
nah Cressey. — May 3, Mr. Orin Farrar. — May 10, Mrs. Marion Bessey. 
— May 8, Mrs. George Thomes. — Aug. 3, Mrs. Augustus Thayer. — Aug. 24, 
iloscoe Record. — Sept. 16, Wilbur Warren. 

1872. 
Jan. 22, Mrs. Kimball Prince. — Jan. Old Mrs. Spencer. — -Feb. 14, Hon. 
Noah Prince. — Feb. 29, Mrs. Lucy Bennett. — Mar. 24, Mrs. Peleg Ham- 
mond. — May 4, Mrs. Ephraim Atwood. — July 8, Mrs. Abraham Waldron. — 
Aug. 3, Aunt Annie Jordan. — Aug. 4, Lottie Daniels. — Aug. 6, Leroy 
Buck. — Aug. 22, Samuel Keen. — Sept. 12, Mrs. Sally Parris. — Sept. 14, Mrs. 
Isaac Morrill. — Oct 10, Esther Tucker — Dec. 14, Abigail Bowker. 

1873. 
Jan. 4, Olive Ames. — Jan.. 14, Elisha Bessey killed. — Feb. 14, Hon. 
Zadoc Long in Mass. — Apr. 18, Warren Bessey. — Apr. 21, America Thayer. 
— May 18, Mr. Timothy Record. — June 19, Mrs. William Daniels. — June 
29, Mrs. Clinton Howe. — July 22, Mrs. Otis Bicknell. — Aug. 21, Emerson 
Coburn, killed. — Sept. 12, Mr. James N. Waldron. — Sept. 5, Mr. Allen Tut- 
tle. — Oct. 13. Nathan Storer. — Dec. 2, Mrs. Ephraim Harlow. — Dec. IS, Mr.s. 
Asa Woodbury. — Dec. 18, Mrs. Asa Robinson. 

1874. 
Jan. 14, James Murdock. — Mar. 8, Ina Briggs. — Mar. 10. Kinsman 
Holmes. — Mar. 14, Henry Hammond. — Mar. 28, Howard Damon. — May 10, 



724 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Mrs. Moses Thomes. — June 6, Mrs. Cyrus Dean. — June 12, Joseph Shaw 
in Auburn. — June 13, Hon. Virgil D. Parris at Paris Hill. — June 23, So- 
phronia Turner, suicide (hung herself). — Sept. IS, Lottie Hanson. — Dec. 
25, Mrs. Ella (Whitman) Chandler in Sumner. — Dec. 30, Mrs. Granville 
Harlow. 

1875. 
Jan. IS, Old Mrs. Hutchinson. — Jan. 20, Mr. Jacob Leonard. — Feb. 17, 
Mrs. Obadiah Berry. — Mar. 1, Mr Obadiah Berry — Mar. 12, Mr. Amasa 
Tucker. — Apr. IS, Mrs. Burroughs. — Apr.. 24, Mr. Oscar Gardner; Apr. 30, 
Charles Gerrish. — June 26, Mr. Nathaniel Leonard. — July 5, Nathaniel 
Marston. — July 7, Alfred Monk, SS; had lived with his wife. Relief, over 
67 yrs. — Aug. 26, Peggy Hall. — Aug. 28, Nellie Buck, 18. — Oct. 2, Ed. 
Smith. — Oct. 6, Horace Keen. — Oct. 6, Polly Turner, S6. — Oct. 21, Cyrus 
Chase. — Oct. 22, Lucinda Turner. — Oct. 23, Ephraim Ricker. — Nov. 18, 
Capt. Miltemore Jordan (near Mechanic Falls). — Dec. 22, William Irish. 
— Dec. 25, Orville Bridgham. 

1876. 
Jan. 27, Martin Churchill. — Mar. 2, Tristram Warren. — Mar. 22, Wash- 
ington Heald, 73. — Mar. 24, Mrs. Samuel Jordan at Mechanic Falls. — Apr. 
12, James Canwell. — May 10, Burt Shaw, suicide. — May 23, Charles Evans. 
— June 8, Polly Churchill. — June 15, Mr. Valentine Ripley. — July 24, 
Widow Cushman. — Sept. 14, Old Mr. Edmund Dean. — Oct. 22, Gussie 
Record. — ^Oct. 30, Enna Chase. — Nov. 23, Asa Record. — Dec. 1, Angle Tut- 
tle. — Dec. 12, Cyrus Record. — Dec. 16, Citoyenna Buck. 

1877. 
Jan. 14, Stephen L. Record. — Jan. 25, Mrs. Ann Allen. — Feb. 11, Ada 
Jane Toung. — Feb. 17, Gilbert Evans — Mar. 3, Old Mr. David Bonney. — 
Mar. 8, Mr. John Brock. — Mar. 12, Elijah Whitman. — Mar. 29, Mrs. Wil- 
liam Morse. — Apr. 23, Carroll Spaulding. — Apr. 24, Fairfield Bessey, sui- 
cide, hung himself. — May 1, Artemas Cole. — July 14, Joel Foster, 79. — July 
24, Aunt Hannah Tucker. — Aug. 11, Mrs. Ezekiel Record. — Sept. 2., Otis 
Bicknell.^ — Sept. 9, Mrs. Lorenzo Dean. — Sept. 10, Freddie Cobb. — Oct. 6, 
Lemuel Cole. — Oct. 6, Francis Buck. — Oct. 15, Harold Farrar. — Nov. 17, 
Aunt Cenia Bicknell. — Dec. 21. Miles Long. — Dec. 25, Bela Farrar. , 

1878. 
Jan. 4, Mrs. Harvey Keene, 76. — Jan. 13, Royal Allen. — Feb. 18, Ara- 
tus Damon, 43. — Mar. 12, Jesse Turner. — Mar. 19, Charles Allen. — Mar. 24, 
Old Lady Jewett, 82 yr., 9 mos. — Apr. 21. Moses Lowe. — May 4, Mrs. Cyrus 
Spaulding. — July 14, George Whittemore, drowned. — July 23, Mrs. Bert 
Churchill. — Sept. 28. Austin Buck, suicide. — Nov. 18, Thomas Damon. — 
Dec. 6, Charles .Briggs. — Dec. 9, Mrs. Relief Monk, 90. 

1879. 

Jan. 22, John Farrar, Hannah Danley. — Mar. 4, Mrs. Evans. — Mar. 27, 
Alice L. Cole. — Apr. 17, Artemas Gregg. — Apr. 20, Harold Heald. — May 2, 
Mr. Jonathan Gammon. — June 3, Mrs. Mary J. Storer; July 11, Mrs. Car- 
rie Monk. — Aug. 19, Mrs. Sarah Mayhew, 38. — Sept. 22, Allen Dean. — Nov. 
1, Aunt Nabby Bowker. — Nov. 2, Mary Pearson. — Nov. 27, Melvin Allen. — 
Nov. 30, Mrs. Moses Thomes. 

1880. 

Jan. 3, Lorenzo Buck (son of Mellen). — Feb. 15, Alton Bonney. — Mar. 
15, Augustus Swallow Keith at Bridgewater, Mass.; — Apr. 5, Laodicea 
Harlow. — Apr. 12, Florence W. Bicknell, 18; Ella Heald, 29. — April 27, 
Kimball Jordan, Nathan Churchill. — May 18, Eunice Hall. — May 27, So- 
phronia Evans. — June 30, Joseph Damon. — Sept. 25, Sally Bowker. 84. — 
Oct, 3, Mr. James Merrill. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 720 

1881. 
Mar. 4. Dea. Whitney Cumniings. — Mar. 9, Freeman Hollis, Mr. Sidney 
Spaulding. — Apr., Franklin Pearson. — May 18, Eekiel Record. — June 22, 
Ephraim Lowe. — July 24, daughter of Fred DeCoster. — Aug. 2, Mrs. 
Sarah Prince. — Aug. 17, Mr. DeCoster. — Aug. 31, Fred Briggs. — Sept. 8, 
William Morse, suicide. — Sept. 21, Emma Cole. — Oct. 6, Jason Damon. — 
Oct. 30, Frank Cobb. — Nov. 10, Harrison Swallow. — Nov. 19, Mrs. Ham- 
den Allen. — Dec. 5, son of Dr. J. C. Caldwell. — Dec. 15, Mr. Luther Turner. 

1882. 

Jan. 14, Ada Jack. — Jan. 12. George Bicknell. — Mar.. Amos Tucker. — 
April 23. Mrs. Jordan (Mary Bowker's mother). — May 10, Mr. Sydenham 
Bridgham. — May 23, Angle Hammond. — May 28, Marcella Farrar. — July 27, 
Betsey Thompson. — Aug. 11, Lorenzo Bonney. — Oct. 3, Aunt Susan Leon- 
ard, Wallace Atwood. — Oct. 13, Loring Bicknell. — Dec. 29, Mrs. Mary 
Tucker Cummings. 

1883. 

April 17, Mrs. Jacob Briggs. — May 9, George Allen. — May 13, Har- 
rison Record. — July 18, Mrs. Jane Hall Douglass. — Aug. 6, Elbridge Bick- 
nell.— Sept. 7, Josephine Hall. — Oct. 8. Daniel Fletcher. — Oct. 24, Hittie 
Mayhew. — Nov. 1, Mrs. Gilbert Barrett. — Nov. 26, Betsey Churchill. — Dec. 
1, Sylvenia Buck. — Dec. 9, Mary Bicknell. 

1884. 
Jan. 7. Isabel Bicknell. — Jan. 11, Peleg Hammond. — Feb. 3, Mr. Ames. 
— Mar. 29, Calvin Robbing. — May 19, Chandler DeCoster. — June 21, Persis 
Hall. — June 30, Harvey Keene. 78. — Oct. 15, Mr. Mark Lowell. — Oct. 13, 
Melissa Dunham. — Nov 14, Nathaniel Harlow 

1885. 

Jan. 8, Alexander Mayhew. — Feb. 21, Edna Bell Ames. — Mar. 10, Mrs. 

Benj. Spaulding. — Apr. 1, Madison O. Proctor. — Apr. 2, Peleg Hammond, 2d. 

Apr. 30. Benj. Briggs, killed in mill. — Apr. 19, America Bonney. — Apr. 26, 

Mrs. Emily Hammond — May 10, Caleb Cushman. — June 7, Mrs. Willis E. 

Cole. June 27. Elvira Proctor. — July 6, Nancy Shedd. — July 20, William 

Cressey, killed.— Aug. 27, Mrs. Jane Hall.— Sept. 21, Elder Hall, 89.— Nov. 
16, Judith Bicknell, 83.— Dec. 28, Otis Turner. 

1886. 
Jan. 10, Charles Withington.— Jan. 20, Mrs. Ruth Tucker.— Mar. 13. 
Patience Hodgdon, 86.— May 18, Calvin Turner.— May 30 ,Mrs. Phebe 
Record.— June 10, Blanche Buck, 18. — Aug. 7, Samuel Damon. 81. — Aug. 
17 Mrs. Lemuel Cole, 82.— Sept. 8, Harrison Hodgdon.— Sept. 22. Mrs. 
Eliza Monk, 63.— Oct. 12, Mrs. Caroline Tucker.— Oct. 30, Abijah Buck 
(3d), at Mechanic Falls.— Nov. 23. Mrs. Edna Atwood Watkins. 

1887. 
Jan. 7, Moses Jordan.— Jan. 29, Mr. Gilbert Barrett, Mr. Nathan Mor- 
riii._Feb. 22, WMlliam Bicknell, 83.— Mar. 16. Mrs. James Hussey.— Apr. 
8, John Bennett.— Apr. 23, Rolan A. Foster, 45.— Apr. 25, Alonzo Bowker. 
May 7, Levi Jordan.— May 10, Mrs. Hiram Fields, suicide.— May 12, James 
Keen.— May 31, Mrs. Millett Shedd.— June 4, Walter Cobb, killed.— June 3, 
H. H. Hutchinson, Esq. — June 9, Columbus Harlow. — Jun^ 27, Georgia 
Spaulding Philbrick.— July 13. Mrs. Thomas Chase.— July 29, Lsaac Har- 
low, Harold Austin.— Sept. 16, Henry Holbrook, Mrs. Rolan (Polly) Fos- 
ter. 81.— Oct. 12, James Huzzey.— Oct. 22 .Charles Harlow.— Oct. 29. CUn- 
ton Ripley.— Nov. 26, Silas Mitchell.— Dec. 13, Col. Albert D. White. 

1888. 
Jan. 1. Mrs. Valentine Ripley. Mrs. William Bicknell, 82.— Jan. 12, Mr. 
Varanes DeCoster.— Jan. 9. Otis Young.— Feb. 4. Wm. Mitchell.— Feb. 16. 



726 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Melissa Bowker. — Mar. 7, Ozen Spaulding. — Mar. S, Emma Shaw. — Apr. IS, 
John Bicknell. — June 7, Mrs. Lizzie Caldwell. — July 29. Sadie M. Jack. — 
Aug-. 24, Leander Hodgdon. — Aug. 29, Mrs. Asa Taylor. — Oct. 12, child of 
Elmer and Frank Austin. — Nov. 18, Gilbert Evans, 2d. 

1889. 
Feb. 15, Mr. Alexander Thayer. — Mar. 17, John Damon. — Mar. 19, Ly- 
sander Monk. — Apr. 20, Mrs. Arvilla Maxim. — May 9, son of Fred H. At- 
wood. — ^Aug. 2, Lila May Monk. — Aug. 26, Asa Woodbury. — Sept. 19, Chris- 
topher Harlow. — Sept. 20, Almeda Buck.- — Sept. 23, Maj. Lucius Loring, 
91- — Nov. 11, Hon. Sullivan C. Andrews in Mass. — ^Dec. 6, Ambrose Buck. 

1890. 
Jan. 10, Mrs. Larnard Farrar. — Jan. 13, Simeon Abbott, 89. — Jan. 28, 
Edmund Irish.^ — Feb. 3, Isaac Jordan. Frank, son of Herman Morse. — 
Feb. 15, Tristram G. Bicknell. — Mar. 5, Mrs. Jerusha Shaw. — Mar. 6, Mr. 
George H. Watkins. — Apr. 7, Charles Tucker. May 2, Mrs. David Bonney. — 
May 13, Courtney Record. — June 4, Alden Bessey. — July 4, Mrs. Ezekiel 
Fuller. — Sept. 25, Deering Mayhew. — Nov. 16, Mrs. Isaac Jordan. — Dec. 8, 
William Hammond. — Dec. 16. Lucretia Buck. — Dec. 19, Samuel P. Harlow. 

1891. 

Jan. 10, Levi P. Bicknell, killed. — Jan. 11, Frank Brown. Jan. IS, 
Walter F. Warren. — Feb. 3, Sophia Spaulding. — Feb. 5, Plollis 
Hall. — Feb. 24, Mrs. Susan Dunham. — Mar. 13, Dea. Henry Bangs. — 
Mar. 24, Mr. Lorenzo Atwood, Mrs. Araminta Farrar, 81. — Mar. 27, Hon. 
Rufus Prince Turner. — Apr. 4, Mr. Bphraim Atwood, 82. — May 15, Win- 
chester Spaulding. — May 10, Mrs. Solon Chase, Turner. — ^May 25. Mrs. 
Leander Hodgdon. — June 29, Lucy B. Hammond. — July 17, Mrs. Lydia 
White. — July 20, Mrs. Ephraim Lowe, 86. — Aug. 10, George Gregg, 
Andover. — Aug. 21, Charles H. Dunharri. — Sept. 6, John Cressey, suicide. — • 
Oct. 1, Anna Heald Bonney. — Oct. IS. Lucy C. Mason. — Nov. 8, Mrs. Ly- 
sander Lowe. 

1892. 

Jan. 14, Africa Farrar, Freeman Shaw. — Jan. 22, John Warren. 84. — Jan. 
31, W. Franklin Spaulding. — Feb. 4, Mrs. Larnard Swallow, 82. — Feb. 9, 
Elsie Hollis. — Feb. 12, Gilman Cushman. — Feb. 24, Ella, wife of Dr. C. M. 
Bisbee. — Apr. 14, Thomas W. Keyou, Paris.- — May 13, Martha A. Waite. — 
July 22, Bessie Damon. — July 25, Clark Record. — July 19, Etta Jordan, 
Mechanic Falls. — Aug. 10, Elias Monk, 73. — August 23, Rinaldo Monk, 43. — 
Nov. 16, Mary S. Mason, 69. — Dec. 15. Dr. Charles Dana Bradbury. 

1893. 

Jan. 5, Prudence Austin, 81. — Jan. 7, Bertha M. Roberts. — Feb. 6, Bes- 
sie M. Maxim, 10. — Feb. 7, Lebbeus Leavitt, 82. — Feb. 8, Howard D. Wal- 
dron, 67. — Feb. 12, George Bennett. — Mar. 3, Hanson Brown, 80. — 
March 23, Philip Mason.— Apr. 16, Horace Morrill, 60. — Apr. 19. Columbia 
P. Turner, 58. — June 18, Mr. William W. Bacon, 76. — June 23. Silas Shaw, 
71. — July 6. Eliza Heald. 89. — July 17, Aroline R. Purkis, 37. — Aug. 11, 
Sylvira Warren, 77. — Sept. 12, Mr. David Farrar, 91. — Sept. 19, Sarepta 
Shaw, 88, Willie S. Record, 1.3 — Oct., George R. Coffren.— Oct. 5, Mary 
Lewis, 69. 

1894. 

Jan. 10, Nancy M. Murdock. 57. — Jan, 16. Jane Spaulding, 81. — Feb. 14, 
George Cushman, 38, Ellis H. Austin, 67. — Mar. 9, Mr. Asa Taylor. — Mar. 
t2, Mrs. Harriet E. Harlow. — Apr. 2, Agnes B. Sampson, 81. — Apr. 7, Mary 
M. Waterman, 69. — Apr. 8, Mr. Isaac Shaw, 87. — Apr. 10, Mary Irish. — 
May 9, Tryphenia DeCoster, 82. — May 22, Rensellear Foster, 70. — May 27, 
Emily Holmes, 24. — June 26, Granville C. Waterman, 89. — July 28. Burt 
Gammon, 18. — Aug. 20, Louisa B. Spaulding, 1. — Aug. 26, Mr. Rasselas 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 727 

Cole, 84. — Sept. 22, Klvira Harlow. ()2. — Sept. 2S. Mary B. Gammon, 4 1. — 
Oct. 6, John Monk, 85. — Oct. 9, Charles Tucker, 38, Mary Cressey, G9. — Oct. 
10, Annie M. Tuttle, 23. — Nov. 23, Matilda Wood, 8.5. — Dec. 4, Mariah E. 
Irish, 79. 

1895. 
Jan. IS, Mr. Josiah Whitten.^Jan. 30, Jumalia AVarren, 87. — P'eb. 23, 
Jacob Lothrop. Apr. 9, Relief Jordan at Mechanic Falls, 78. — Apr. 14, Mrs. 
Angel ia Record Farrar, 69. — May 3, Martha Bicknell DeCoster, S. Paris, 47. 
— May 9. Mary Ann Mayhew Farrar, Paris. 58. — May 22, Ira Ames. — May 
26, Melinda Harlow Austin. — June 7, Mrs. Caroline Buck at Bethel. 99%. — • 
July 5, Mrs. Rasselas Cole. — July 11, Mrs. Salatiel Tilton at Floral Park, 
N. T. — Sept. 29. Aaron Cobb, 79. — Nov. 17, Alonzo Record. — Nov. 20, Solo- 
mon Winslow. — Nov. 23. Ferdinand Warren. 76. — Dec. 7, infant son of 
Harry and Kate Buck, 2 days. — Dec. 16, Adeline Maxim Harlow, 59. — Dec. 
22 Charles Merrill. 

1896. 
Jan. 2, Cynthia Waterman Farrar, 91. — Jan. 10. Joseph Bickmll. 72. — - 
Feb. 3. Herbert Bennett, 33. at Chicago. — Feb. 5. Capt. Isaac H. McDon- 
ald, Portland. — May 6, Augustus Bonney, 52, Etta Eastman. — May 7, 
Peter Tileston. Mechanic Falls. 80. — June 2, Mr. Addison Cole, 84. Auburn. 
— June 14. Mrs. Eliza Spaulding. — June 29, Granville Harlow. — July 4, 
Prof. Luther Mason. — Aug. 1, Eliab Bisbee. — Aug. 5, Aunt Arvilla 
Record at Mechanic Falls, 93. — Sept. 27, Lora Bessey Millett. 26. — Oct. 
23, Mrs. Columbus Harlow. — Nov. 23, Ezekiel Fuller. Hartford. — Dec. 19. 
Fred A. Waldron. Esq., Waterville, 55. — Dec. 24, Jonah Fobes, 83. 

1897. 
Jan. 31, Araminta Buck Battles, 67, in Bradford, Mass. — Feb. 17, Hep- 
zlbah Atwood Cole, 91. — Mar. 20, Mrs. Silas Mitchell. — Apr. 3, Mrs. W. H. 
Conant, 22. — Apr. 5, Mrs. Phebe (P'oster) Whitman, 75. — Apr. 7. Caroline 
(Heald) Davis, 63. — June 5, Mr. David L. Farrer ,76. — July 3. Cyrus Cole 
Spaulding, 59. — July 4. Luther Turner, 59. — June 26, Ezekiel Damon, 99. 
at N. Paris. — Sept. 21, Mr. Stephen D. Hutchinson, 85, at Paris Hill, 
Hiram A. Conant, 52. — Sept. 24, Elijah Turner. 76, Wm. Burt, 75. — Oct. 
15, Stella May Turner, 7, Charles Withington, 7. — Oct. 20, Harold Nulty, 
5. — Nov. 7. Edson Murdock, 69. — Dec. 2, Mrs. Caroline Crocker Bridgham, 
91. — Dec. 4, Nettie Kimball, wife of S. Norman Buck, at Norway. — Dec. 
9, Alonzo V. Ripley, Hot Springs, Ark. — Dec. 10. Addison Monk, 55, at 
Hebron. — Dec. 21, Virgil P. Foster, killed by cars in Pembroke. Mass. 

1898. 
Jan. 6, Mrs. Amial fHussey) Jones, 61. — Jan. 7, Cyrus Dean, 93. — 
Feb. 7, Mrs. Chase Harris. — Feb. 5, Arthur Thomas, 12. — Feb. 19, Mrs. John 
E. Wood, 26. — Feb. 21, Stephen Winslow, 70. — Feb. 24, Mrs. Varanes De- 
Coster, 84. — Feb. 26, Miss Rose Maxim, at Cambridge, Mass., 47. — Mar. 2. 
Fitzroy J. Foster, 50, S. Paris. — Mar. 10, Mrs. Addison G. Cole. S3, Au- 
\)xirn. — Mar. 27, Delia Cooper Briggs. 37. — Hattie Andrews Smith, 26. — 
Apr. 1, Polly Mayhew, 76. — Apr. 13, E. Grant Harlow, 26, Paris Hill. — Apr. 
8, Mrs. Huldah R. Merrill. SO. — May 6, Demeric Swan. 87. — June 3, Dr. 
John F. DeCoster, 39, Rumford Falls.— July 11, Moses Merrill, Sumner.— 
July 17, Lysander Lowe, 85. — Aug. 9. Edwin S. Burroughs. 54. in Mass. — 
Oct. 16, Miss Martha C. Foster, Hebron. — Oct. 30. Mrs. Faustina (Record) 
Mitchell, 73.— Oct. 2. Mrs. Sarah (Bicknell) Foster. 59, Hebron.— Nov. 
19, Calvin B. Keene, 88. — Nov. 22, Percy Gauthier, 25. — Nov. 26, A. Ad- 
dison Record, 69, in Mass. — Dec. 5, Mrs. William Burt, 76, — Dec. 12. Mrs. 
Hiram A. Conant, 49. — Dec. 19, Nathan Maxim, 87. — Dec. 20, Alanson 
M, Warren, 71, Pleasanton, Mich. — Dec. 31, Marllia, will- of Clinton 
Swallow. 71, in Miss. 



728 HISTOF-^Y OF BUCKFIELD 

1899. 
Jan. 6. Annie D. wife of Hon. Prentiss Cummings, 4 6, Brookline, Mass. 
— Mrs. Polly Howe, 81, W. Sumner. — Jan. 8, John Buck, 82. — Jan. 10, 
George "VV. Battles, 73, N. H. — Jan. 17, Mrs. Lizzie, wife of Benj. Irish, 
60, Mrs. Margaret (Cox) Russell. 66. — Jan. 17, Earl F. Bowman, 35, 
Boston, Mass. — Feb. 8, Mrs. Elizabeth Lothrop, 80, W. Sumner. — P'eb. 14, 
Mrs. William Chase, Yarmouth. — Mar. 3, Mrs. Robinson Dean, 58. — Mar. 
12, Winslow Turner, 74, Auburn. — Mar. 19, Mrs. Josiah Hutchinson, 65. — 
Apr. 10. Luke Brown. 63. — Apr. 11, Harold V. Lowell, 1. — Apr. 14, Mrs. 
Chas. B. Harlow, William Monk, 87 — Apr. 21. Lena Coffren, burned to 
death. — Apr. 25, Mrs. Charles Twitchell, 61. — May 17, Alfred Shaw, 70. — 
May 15, James M. Johnson, 87, Mechanic Falls. — May 9, Mrs. Harriet F. 
Vose, 62. — July 22, Willis E. Pike, 46. — ^^July 4, Mrs. Melissa Cole Allen, 65. 
July 6, Mrs. Hanson Brown, 77. — June, George Clinton Swallow, 82, Miss. 
— July 14, Seth Sieberling, 52. — July 25, Hiram Staples, 85. — Aug. 1, Mrs. 
Louisa Benson, 93. — Oct. 6, Mrs. Phebe Mason, 63. — Nov. 2, Aratus Far- 
rar, 87. — Nov 12, George R. Coyle 58. — Dec. 10, Dr. Frank J. Bonney, 
Dentist. 49, Auburn — Dec 19, Harriet (Monk) Pearson, 63 — Dec. 20, 
Emily Fletcher Hammond, 4 5. 

1900. 
Jan. 10, Harry M. Chaffln, 28. — Jan. 8, Mrs. Almira A. Warren, 69, 
Pleasanton, Mich. — Feb. 5, Mrs. Huldah Bisbee, 100, Woodstock. — Jan. 19, 
Harry Davie. 32. — Feb. 13. Mrs. Arabella Bicknell Farrar, 74. — Feb. 23. 
Mrs. William Record, 80. — Feb. 27, Capt. John E. Br>ant (Emma 
Spaulding's husband), Mt. Vernon. — Mar. 17. Chandler Damon. 82, Suni- 
nei-. — Mar. 22, Miss Helen A. Ricker, 28. — Mar. 27, Mr. Reuben L. Far- 
rar, 81. — April 3, Cyril Pearl Swallow, 58, Windsor Mills. Canada. — Apr. 
8, Augustus G. Pearson, 66. — Apr. 10, Mrs. E. S. Mower (nee Caro Buck), 
46. at Rome. — April, Mrs. Jennette (Record) Lord, 76. — May 17, Lewis 
Leighton, 76. — May 23, Mr. Rotheus B. Waite, 81. — June 5, Elijah Jordan, 
83, at Mechanic Falls. George Long, 68. — June 7, Mr. Joshua E. Whitman, 
81. — Dec. 15, Ernest L. Swallow, 31, Windsor Mills, Canada, his birthday. 
— Dec. 12, Mr. William H. Atwood, 74. — Dec. 29, Jason Mitchell, 85, at 
Mechanic Falls. 






HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



729 



APPENDIX. 



1794. 
Lemuel Crooker 
William Harlow 
Jonathan Roberts 
Benjamin Spaulding 
Dominicus Record 

1795. 
L.emuel Crooker 
William Harlow 
Dominicu.s Record 

1796. 
Benjamin Spaulding 
Samuel Andrews 
Lemuel Crooker 

1797. 
Lemuel Crooker 
Samuel Andrews 
Abijah Buck 

1798. 
Lemuel Crooker 
Samuel Andrews 
Abijah Buck 

1799. 
Samuel Andrews 
Enoch Hall 
William Berry 

1800. 
Lemuel Crooker 
Abijah Buck 
Dominicus Record 

1801. 
Lemuel Crooker 
Abijah Buck 
Dominicus Record 

1S02. 
Dominicus Record 
Lemuel Crooker 
Abijah liuck 

1803. 
Dominicus Record 
Benj. Si)aulding, Jr. 
A\'illiam Berry 

1804. 
Dominicus Record 
Lemuel Crooker 
Alexander Thayer 

180,5. 
Dominicus Record 
Enoch Hall 
William Lowell 



TOWN OFFZCIIRS. 
Selectmen. 

1806. 
Dominicus Record 
Enoch Hall 
William Lowell 

1807. 
Enoch Hall 
Dominicus Record 
\\'illiam LowoU 

1808. 
Enoch Hall 
Dominicus Record 
Daniel Hutchinson 

1809. 
Dominicus Record 
Enoch Hall 
Daniel Hutchinson 

1810. 
Enoch Hall 
Daniel Hutchinson 
Benj. Spaulding', Jr. 

1811. 
Enoch Hall 
Leonard Spaulding 
Benj. Spaulding, Jr. 

1812. 
Enoch Hall 
Benj. Spaulding 
Leonard Spaulding 

1813. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Leonard Spaulding 
Larnard Swallow 

1814. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Larnard Swallow 
Josiah Parris 

1815. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Larnard Swallow 
Daniel Chase 

1816. 
Larnard Swallow 
John Swett 
Enoch Hall 

1817. 
Larnard Swallow 
Enoch Hall 
Samuel F. Brown 



1818. 
Larnard Swallow 
Enoch Hall 
Samuel F. Brown 

1S19. 
Enoch Hall 
Larnard Swallow 
Samuel F. Brown 

1820. 
Enoch Hall 
David Farrar 
Thomas Long 

1821. 
Larnard Swallow 
Thomas Long 
Benj. Spaulding 

1822. 
I^arnard Swallow 
Benj. Spaulding 
Enoch Hall 

1823. 
Larnard Swallow 
Benj. Spaulding 
Enoch Hall 

1824. 
Larnard Swallow 
Benj. Spaulding 
Enoch Hall 

1825. 
Aaron Parsons 
Daniel Chase 
Benj. Spaulding 

182tj. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Daniel Chase 
Aaron I'arsons 

1827. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Enoch Hall 
Daniel Chase 

1828. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Daniel Chase 
Enoch Hall 

1829. 
l)aniel t'hase 
Benj. Spaulding 
Henry H. Hutcliinson 



I'dO 



HISTORY OF BUCKFLELD 



1830. 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 
Noali Prince 

1831. 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
James Bonney, Jr. 
Noali Prince 

1832. 
Noah Hall 
Henry DeCoster 
Henry H. Hutchinson 

1833. 
Noah Hall 

Henry H. Hutchinson 
Henry DeCoster 

1834. 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 
Noah Hall 

1835. 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
Noah Hall 
Henry DeCoster 

1836. 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
Noah Prince 
Henry DeCoster 

1837. 
James Bonney 
Jonas Spaulding 
Joseph Turner 

1838. 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
Noah Prince 
Henry DeCoster 

1839. 
Noah Prince 
Stephen Hutchinson 
Henry DeCcster 

1840.- 
Henry H. Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 
Nathaniel Leonard 

1841. 
Stephen Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 
James Bonney 

1S42. 
Stephen Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 
James Bonney 

1843. 
James I5onney 
Ira Gardner 
Lewis ^lason 



1844. 
Noah Prince 
Stephen Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 

1845. 
Noah Prince 
Stephen Hutchinson 
Ximenes Philbrick 

1846. 
Ximenes Philbrick 
Stephen Hutchinson 
Daniel Chase 
1847. 
Noah Prince 
Ximenes Philbrick 
Stephen Hutchinson 

1848. 
Noah Prince 
Joshua Irish 
Dastine Spaulding 

1849. 
H. H. Hutchinson. Jr. 
David B. Record 
Merritt Farrar 
1850. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Joshua Irish 
Merritt Farrar 
1851. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Merritt Farrar^ 
Lewis Mason 

1852. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Merritt Farrar 
Ximenes Philbrick 

1853. 
James Bonney 
Daniel Fletcher 
Leonard Russell 

1854. 
James Bonney 
Leonard Russell 
Nathan O. Storer 

1855. 
Leonard Russell 
Carlton Gardner 
James Spaulding- 

1856. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Lewis Mason 
Asa Taylor 

1857. 
Addison G. Cole 
Albion P. Bonney 
William Chase 



1858. 
Ximenes Philbrick 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Naphtali Mason 

1859. 
Ximenes Philbrick 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Naphtali Mason 

1860. 
Thomas Chasse 
Orin Farrar 
Noah Prince 

1861. 
Thomas Chase 
Noah Prince 
Orin Farrar 

1862. 
Noah Prince 
Merritt Farrar 
Josiah Hutchinson 

1863. 
Dastine Spaulding- 
Chas. H. Berry 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 

1864. 
Dastine Spaulding 
Chas. H. Berry 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 

1865. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Thomas Chase 
Thomas W. Bowman 

1866. 
H. H. Hutchinson. Jr. 
T. G. Bicknell 
O. F. Gardner 

1867. 
Hiram Hines 
Almon C. Day 
Albion P. Bonney 

1868. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
C. D. Bradbury 
Alden Bessey 

1869. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
C. D. Bradbury 
O. F. Gardner 

1870. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Varanes DeCoster 
Silas Mitchell 
1871. 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Silas Mitchell 
• Jilbert Barrett 



HISTORY OF BL'CK FIELD 



781 



1872. 
Carlton Gardner 
Chas. H. Berry 
A. F. Mason 

1873. 
O. F. Gardner 
S. C. Andrews 
A. D. White 

1874. 
Carlton Gardner 
Chas. H. Berry 
Alfred Cole 

1875. 
Charlton Gardner 
Alfred Cole 
Lucius Young 

1876. 
Carlton Gardner 
Alfred Cole 
A. G. Atkinson 

1877. 
Alfred Cole 
Gilbert Barrett 
Merritt Farrar 

1878. 
Alfred Cole 
Merritt Farrar 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 

1879. 
-\.lbion P. Bonney 
^lerritt Farrar 
.v. F. Mason 

1880. 
T. S. Bridgham 
A. F. Mason 
J. C. Heald 

1881. 
T. S. Bridgham 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Silas Mitchell 



1882. 
T. S. Bridgham 
Albion P. Bonney 
A. F. Mason 

1883. 
Albion P. Bonney 
A. F. Mason 
Henry D. Irish 

1884. 
T. S. Bridgham 
Henry D. Irish 
H. H. Hutch in.son, Jr. 

1885. 
Albion P. Bonney 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
A. S. Bessey 

1886. 
Albion P. Bonney 
Clarence E. Foster 
Henry D. Irish 

1887. 

A. F. Mason 
xVlbion P. Bonney 
Cyrus C. Spaulding 

1888. 
Carlton Gardner 
Ellis Whitman 

B. C. Mason 

1889. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Ellis Whitman 
V. P. DeCostcr 

1890. 
Benj. Spaulding 
Ellis Whitman 
V. P. DeCoster 

1891. 
Benj. Spaulding 



L. C. Mason 
Albion P. Bonney 

1892. 
Stanley Bisbee 
L. C. Mason 
Ellis Whitman 

1893. 
T. S. Bridgham 
Albion P. Bonney 
V. P. DeCoster 

1894. 
Carlton Gardner 
Albion P. Bonney 
AValter H. Purkis 

1895. 
T. S. Bridgham 
Walter H. Purkis 
Albion P. Bonney 

1896. 
T. S. Bridgham 
Walter H. Purkis 
Albion P. Bonney 

1897. 
Walter H. Purkis 
Ellis Whitman 
N. E. Morrill 

1898. 
T. S. Bridgham 
E. B. Austin 
L. C. Mason 

1899. 
E. B. Austin 
L. C. Mason 
J. B. Mason 

1900. 
E. B.. Austin 
Henry Parsons 
H. F. Irish 



Clerks. 



1794. Thomas Allen 

1804. Enoch Philbrick 

1814. Increase Spaulding 

1819. Samuel F. Brown 

1820. Stephen Phelps 
1822. Zadoc Long 
1829. Nathan Atwood 
1S:!2. \'irgil D. Parris 
1833. Ephraim Atwood 
1835. George Bridgham, Jr. 
1841. Stephen D. Hutchinson 
1847. James Murdock 



1849. Dastine Spaulding 

1852. George Thomcs 

1854. James Murdock 

1857. Dastine .Spaulding 

1865. Carlton Gardner 

1867. Jason Farrar 

1868. Josiah Hutchinson 
1871. Jason Farrar. 
1873. O. F. Gardner 
1875. Cyrus C. Spaulding 
1883. Alfred Cole 



'82 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 





Treasurers. 


1794. 


Dominicus Record 


1851. 


1798. 


Mark Andrews 


• 1855. 


180.3. 


Benj. Spaulding- 


1856. 


1804. 


Benj. Spaulding, Jr. 


1857. 


1818. 


Larnard Swallow 


1858. 


1821. 


Josiah Parris 


1860. 


1822. 


Larnard Swallow 


1861. 


1829. 


Enoch Crocker 


1862. 


1830. 


James Bonney, Jr. 


1863. 


1834. 


Jonas Spaulding- 


1865. 


1837. 


Henry DeCoster 


1868. 


1838. 


Jonas Spaulding 


1872. 


1839. 


Sidney Spaulding 


1875. 


1841. 


Thomas Chase 


1880. 


1842. 


Sidney Spaulding 


1881. 


1843. 


Jonas Spaulding 


1882. 


1844. 


Nathaniel Harlow 


1886. 


1845. 


David Farrar 


1888. 


1847. 


Orville Bridgham 


1897. 


1849. 


Joshua Irish 


1898. 



Sullivan C. Andreiws 
Axel Spaulding 
Oscar F. Gardner 
Dastine Spaulding 
Orville Bridgham 
Dastine Spaulding 
Albion P. Bonney 
H. H. Hutchinson, Jr. 
Amory H. Allen 
Hiram Hines 
S. C. Andrews 
R. C. Jewett 
A. P. Bonney 
V. P. DeCoster 
Gilbert Barrett 
A. P. Bonney 
Carlton Gardner 
Chas. H. Prince 
Merritt Parsons 
Benj. Spaulding, Jr. 



Mr. Cole and Mr. Spaulding wereinotlice after 1900. 



REPRESENTATIVES TO THE IiE&ISI.ATURE. 



To General Court of Mass.: 

Samuel Andrews 1798 

Enoch Hall 1807--8-9 

Daniel Hutchinson 1810 
Benjamin Spaulding 

1812-13-14-15-16 

To Legislature of Maine: 

Enoch Hall 1820 

Benjamin Spaulding 1821-3-4-7 

Larnard Swallow 1822 

Aaron Parsons 1826 

William Bridgham 1828 

Henry H. Hutchinson 1829-31 



Virgil D. Parris 
Daniel Chase 
Noah Prince 



1832-3-4-5-6-7 

1838-44 

1839-40-1-2 



Ximenes Philbrick 
Joshua Irish 
Ephraim At wood 
Thomas Chase 
Leonard P. Smith 
Lucius Loring 
Thos. W. Bowman 
Sullivan C. Andrews 
Nahum Moore 
George D. JSisbee 
Jason Farrar 
Henry D. Irish 
Thos. S. Bridgham 
Oscar H. Hersey 
Virgil P. DeCoster 



1846-8 
1S50-1 
1852 
1855 
1858 
1861 
1864 
1867 
1870 
1872 
1875 
1878 
1880 
1890 
1898 



SENATORS. 



Virgi) D. Parris 1840-4 2 

(President of the Senate) 

Noah Prince 1849-50-51 

(President of the Senate) 

Thomas Chase 1864-5 



Gilbert Barrett 
George D. Bisbee 
Albion P. Bonney 
Oscar H. Hersey 
Charles H. Prince 



1878 
1880 
1884 
1892 
1900 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJELD 



■:33 



JUSTICES OP THE FEACi:. 



Dominicus Record 


Jan. 


18, 


1805 


Abijah Buck 


July 3. 


1805 


Daniel Ploward 






1805 


John Loring 


Aug. 


22, 


1809 


Nathaniel Howe 


Feb. 


16, 


1811 


Henry Farwell 


June 


11, 


1814 


Samuel F. Brown 


Oct. 


15, 


1814 


Barnard Swallow 


June 


19, 


1816 


Benjamin Spaulding- 






1821 


Enoch Hall 






1821 


Nathaniel Harlow 






1822 


Stephen Phelps 






1824 


Aaron Parsons 






1827 


Zadoc Long 






1828 


William Bridgham 






1829 


Xoah Prince 






1832 


John Bicknell 






1833 


Henry H. Hutchinson 




1833 


Henry DeCoster 






1834 


Joseph Turner 






1834 


Tobias Ricker 






1834 


Axel Spaulding 






1835 



Ephraim Harlow 1S36 

Daniel Chase 1838 

James Bonney 1838 

\Vm. B. Bennett 1841 

Joseph Hall 1842 

S. C. Andrew^s 1849 

George Themes 1852 

J. W. Browne 1S53 

A. K. P. Small 1853 

George D. Bisbee 1865 

Gilbert Barrett 1868 

C. F. Whitman 1869 

A. M. Austin 1872 

O. H. Hersey (Trial) 1875 

T. S. Bridgham (Trial) 1877 

Alfred Cole (Trial) 1880 
Charles H. Prince (Trial) 1887 

Stanley Bisbee 1889 

Charles P. Hatch 18 90 

Merritt Parsons (Trial) 1894 

F. R. Dyer 1895 



NOTARIES FUBI.IC. 



George D. Bisbee 
Oscar H. Hersey 



1877 Alfred Cole 
1890 



1899 



POSTMASTERS. 



Buckiield Villagfe 

Mark Andrews Jan. 1, 1801 

Benjamin Spaulding July 15, 1813 

Increase Spaulding Feb. 1, 1820 

Samuel F. Brown Feb. 1; 1822 

William Bridgham July 31, 1838 

Wm. B. Bennett Oct. 28, 1840 

Samuel F. Brown July 30, 1841 

Orville Bridgham Dec. 2, 1844 

Samuel F. Brown Aug. 22, 1849 

Lorenzo Atwood Feb. 12, 1850 

William Cre-scy Dec. 26, 1850 

Josiah W. Whitten Mar. 25, 1852 

Jacob W. Browne Jan. 23, 1853 

George Thomes Jan. 25, 1855 

Chas. H. Prince May 31, 1861 

James H. DeCoster Feb. 27, 1866 



Isaac VV. Shaw Mar. 27, 18 77 

Alfred Cole Sept., 1885 

Edwin F. Atwood Jan. 1, 1890 

Alfred Cole Jan. 1, 1894 

North Buckfield. 



Hiram Andrews 
James S. Buck 
Roscoe G. Buck 
Washington Heald 
Appleton F. Mason 



Jan. 1, 1854 
Jan. 21, 1855 
July 13, 1855 
Aug. 29, 1856 
July 16. 1875 



West Buckfield. 

Nathaniel Harlow May 1, 1828 

Ephraim Harlow Oct. 16, 1849 

Office discontinued June 21, 1851. 



7B4 HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



MIIiITIA OFFICEKS. 

Mark Andrews, Captain, 1794; Major, 1799. 

William Bridgham, Jr., Sur. Mate, 1807; Surgeon, 1S09. 

David Bryant, Ensign, 1S12; Captain, 1812. 

Moses Buck, Ensign, 1813; Lieutenant, 1814. 

Daniel Chase, Lieutenant, 1810; Captain, 1812. 

Isaac Ellis, Paymaster, 1819. 

Henry Farwell, Major, 1807; "Col., 1816, and Brig. Gen'l, ISIS. 

Nathaniel Harlow, Ensign, 1807; Captain, 1812. 

Daniel Hutchinson, Ensign, 1816; Lieutenant, 1819. 

James Jewett, Lieutenant, 1816; Captain, 1819. 

Lucius Loring, Major Aid-de-Camp, 1818. 

William Lowell, Ensign, 1805; Lieut., 1807, and Capt., 1810. 

Josiah Parris, Lieutenant, 1799; Captain, 1800. 

Enoch Philbrick, Ensign, 1800; Lieut., 1805, and Capt., 1807. 

Bliphalet Packard, Captain, 1819; Bucktield Light Infantry. 

James M. Pote, Ensign, 1816. 

Job Prince, Jr.. Captain, 1818. 

David Record, Jr., Ensign, 1810; Lieutenant, 1812. 

Dominicus Record, Jr., Ensign, 1812; Captain, 1816. 

Oren Record, Lieutenant, 1807. 

Ephraim Ricker, Lieutenant, 1819. 

Jasiel Smith, Lieutenant, 1794; Captain, 1805. 

Benj. Spaulding, Jr., Ensign, 1794. 

Leonard Spaulding, Captain, 1807. 

Alexander Thayer, Cornet, 1805; Lieutenant, 1806. 

Jesse Turner. Jr., Ensign, 1812; Captain, 1813 

Richard Waldron, Ensign, 1814; Quarter-Master, 1818. 

John Warren, Ensign, 1818. 

Obadiah Berry, Ensign. 1820. 

Aaron Parsons, Captain, 1823; Major, 1826; Col., 1827. 

Pelham Bryant, Captain, 1820. 

Eliphalet Packard, Major, 1821; Col., 1824; Brig. Gen'l, 1825. 

Levi Bryant, Lieut., 1821. 

Robert Thompson, Ensign, 1821; Lieut., 1824. 

Jonathan Buck, Ensign. 1821; Capt., 1824. 

John Warren. Capt., 1821. 

Ephraim Ricker, Capt., 1822. 

Lucius Loring, Major and Aid-de-Camp, 1S21-4. 

Apollos Osgood, Lieut., 1822; Adjutant, 1823. 

Isaac Turner, Lieut., 1823; Capt.. 1825. 

James Bowker, Lieut., 1822; Capt., 1825. 

James Bowker, Jr., Cornet, 1822. 

Joseph Turner, Ensign, 1823; Lieut., 1S25; Capt., 1827. 

Noah Prince, Ensign. 1824; Lieut., 1825; Capt., 1826. 

James Bonney, Jr., Ensign, 1824; Capt., 1826; Major, 1827; Col., 1831. 

John Shaw, Aid-de-Camp, 1825. 

Ezra Morton, Ensign, 1825. 

Bela Farrar. Lieut., 1826. 

Ziba Thayer, Ensign, 1826. 

Nathan Morrill. Lieut., 1827. 

Daniel Chase, Jr., Ensign, 1827. 

Bennett Bray, Brig. Q. M., 1828. 

James Spaulding. Ensign. 1827; Capt., 1830. 

Axel Spaulding, Ensign, 1829; Capt., 1832; Major, 1834. 

George Bridgham, Capt., 1830. 

James S. Buck, Ensign, 1830; Lieut., 1832. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFJKLD 735 

Oaks Turner (?), Major. 1S31. 

Seth Stetson, Chaplain, 1831. 

Samuel B. Perry, Lieut., 1831; Capt., 1831. 

David Farrar. Jr., Lieut., 1834; Capt., 1837. 

Richard Taylor, Jr., Lieut., 1834; Capt., 1837. 

Wm. Safford, Paymaster, 1832. 

Chris. C. Harlow, Lieut., 1833; Captain, 1835. 

Thos. Morton, Jr.. Lieut., 1832. 

Edwin Buck, Ensign, 1832; Captain, 1834. 

Hiram Coburn, Ensign, 1833; Capt., 1838. 

Alexander Mayhew, Ensign, 1835. 

Asia Mayhew. Lieut., 1838; Captain, 1840. 

Virgil I). Parris, Q. M., 1836; Captain, 1843. 

Albert 1). White, Ensign, 1834; Lieut.. 1837; Capt., 1838; Lt. Col., 1840. 

Orville Bridgham, Paymaster, 1835. 

Albert DeCoster, Ensign. 1837; Lieut.. 1838. 

Lucius Young, Ensign, 1838. 

Valentine Ripley, Q. IM.. 1838. 

Cyrus Cole, Ensign, 1838. 

Washington Heald, Lieut.. 1834; Capt., 1835; L. Col., 1838. 

Sullivan Bicknell, Lieut., 1838; Capt., 1838. 

Rodney Chaffin. Ensign, 1838. 

Jonathan Buck. Jr.. Lieut., 1838; Capt., 1841. 

Lysander Lowe, Ensign, 1838. 

Horace Hutchinson. Ensign, 1839. 

Tristram Warren. Ensign, 1839; Lieut., 1841. 

Benj. Jenkins. Capt., 1837. 

David B. Record, Capt., 1840. 

Josiah W. Whitten, Ensign, 1840; Lieut., 1841; Capt., 1842. 

Benj. Maxim, Capt., 1841. 

Alexander Cushman, Ensign, 1841. 

Wm. L. Cole. Ensign, 1841; Capt., 1843. 

William Andrews. Ensign, 1842; Lieut., 1843. 

Prescott C. Bridgham. Q. M.. 1842. 

Josiah W. Whitten, Paymaster, 1842; Adjutant, 1S44. 

Amory H. Allen, Lieut., 1843. 

Ozen Spaulding. Ensign, 1843. 

William Tuttle. Ensign. 1843. 

John L. J.wett. Aid, 184 I. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



SETTLERS IN TOWNSHIP IN 1790. 



First column, heads of families; 
wife; 3d, males; 4th, females. 

Thomas Allen 
Abijah Buck 
Nathaniel Buck 
John Buck 
John Buck, 2d 
John Brown 
John Brock 
William Berry 
Amos Brown 
Thomas Coburn 
Jonas Coburn 
Lemuel Crooker 
Nathaniel Chase 
Joseph Chase 
Edmund Chandler 
Daniel Crockett 
John Clay 
William Doble 
Gershom Davis 
Joshua Davis 
Jonathan Damon 
John Elliott 
Joel Foster 
David Farrar 
Jonah Fobes 
Isaac Foster 
Nathaniel Gammon 
Enoch Hall 
John Hussey 
Ichabod Hathaway 
Andrew Harlow 
Jeremiah Hodgdon 
John Irish 
John liish, Jr. 
Ebenezer Irish 
Joseph Irish 
Thomas Irish ■ 
Thomas Joselyn 
James Jordan 
Enoch Leathers 
John Mathews 
Valentine Mathews 



2d, number besides husband and 



6 


3 


3 


Thomas Lowell 


2 




1 


4 


2 


2 


James Mayhew 


4 


2 


2 


8 


4 


4 


William Lowell 


2 


t 




6 


1 


5 


Stephen Lowell 


2 






2 




1 


Jonathan Philbrick 


4 


1 


3 


2 






Daniel Packard 


6 


2 


4 


till fa mi 


b' 




Job Packard 


3 


3 




7 


3 


4 


Philemon Parsons 


5 


3 


2 


6 


4 


2 


Jonathan Roberts 


2 


1 


1 


4 


1 


3 


Joseph Roberts, Jr. 


7 


3 


4 


6 


3 


3 


Joseph Roberts 


3 


1 


2 


7 


2 


5 


Joseph Roberts, 3d 


o 


1 


2 


2 


1 


1 


Dominions Record 


5 


3 


2 


3 


1 


2 


Jonathan Record 


3 


2 


1 


6 


2 


4 


David Record 


4 


3 


1 


3 


2 


1 


Simon Record 


8 


5 


3 


no family 




Tobias Ricker 


3 


2 


1 


7- 


4 


3 


Joel Rich 


6 


3 


3 


5 


2 


3 


Israel Smith 


2 


2 




no fami 


ly 




Seba Smith 


2 


1 




no family 




Nathaniel Smith 


5 


4 


1 


2 






Jotham Shaw 


2 


1 


1 


1 




1 


■Benjamin Spaulding- 


6 


3 


3 


6 


4 


2 


Benj Spaulding, Jr. 


2 






5 


3 


2 


Benj. Spaulding, 2d (? 


) 5 


2 


3 


4 


2 


2 


Moses Stevens 


2 


1 




5 


3 


2 


John Swett 


2 


2 




3 


1 


2 


William Silley (Cilley) 


4 


3 


1 


no family 




Samuel Taylor 


2 


2 




4 


2 


2 


Samuel Taylor, Jr. 


3 


2 


1 


4 


2 


2 


Bani Teague 


4 


2 


2 


3 


2 


1 


Josiah Tilson 


2 


1 




2 


1 


1 


John Thurlo 


6 


5 


1 


6 


1 


5 


David Warren 


2 




2 


2 


1 




John Warren 


5 


1 


4 


4 


2 


2 


Tristram Warren 


4 


3 


1 


5 


3 


2 


Joshua Wescott 


5 


2 


3 


3 


2 


1 


Jacob Whitman 


6 


4 




5 


3 


2 


Caleb Young 


3 


1 


2 


2 


1 




Joshua Young 


6 


4 


2 


7 
2 


4 
1 


3 




294 


160 


134 



No. of families, 77. No. without families, 5. Whole number of males, 
242. Whole number of females, 211. In some of the families besides the 
children, were a few hired laborers, apprentices, or adopted children. 
One such person was In the family of Dominicus Record. 



HISTORY OF BLXKFIELD 



737 



IiIST OP TAXPAYERS IN 1797 



Mark Andrews 
Samuel Andrews 
Thomas Allen 
John ^Vllen 
Abijah Buck 
John Buck 
John Buck, Jr. 
John Buck, 3d 
Nathaniel Buck 
William Berry 
Moses Bisbee 
Amos Brown 
Simeon Bicknell 
Ansel Bisbee 
John Brock 
William Brock 
James Bonney 
Gershom Cole 
John Carr 
John Clay 
Daniel Crockett 
Morris Crockett 
Joseph Chase 
Nathaniel Chase 
Thomas Coburn 
Thomas Coburn, Jr. 
Levi Cushman 
Lemuel Crooker 
William Churchill 
John Carsley 
Stephen Drew 
.Jacob Doty 
Williana Doble 
Gershom Davis 
Joshua Davis 
Jonathan Damon 
John Drake 
Abial Drake 
Jacob DeCoster 
Jacob Dean 
Robert Elliott 
David Farrow 
David Farrow, Jr. 
Samuel Farrow 
Jonah Fobes 
Zadoc Fobes 
Benjamin Fobes 
l.saac Foster 
Joel Foster 
Thomas Faunce 
Tliomas Frazier 
Dr. Samuel Frink 



Asa Lewis 
Ebenezcr Lane 
Simeon Wells 
Ezra Brown 



Nathaniel Gammon 
David Gammon 
Jonathan Gardner 
Luther Gardner 
Ephraim Hathaway 
William Harlow 
Enoch Hall 
Amariah Harris 
John Hussey 
Hatevil Hall 
Nathan Hall 
James Hussey 
-Vbraham Harding- 
Holmes Doty 
Joseph Irish 
Ebenezer Irish 
Thomas Irish 
John Irish 
Thomas Joselyn 
Samuel Jenkins 
James Jordan 
Josiah Keen 
Caleb Lombard 
Thomas Lincoln 
Walley Lincoln 
J ohn LajDham 
.Vbijah Lapham 
Thomas Lowell 
Enoch Leathers 
William Lowell 
John Matthews 
Valentine Matthews 
Daniel Merrill 
Jonathan Philbrick 
Enoch Philbrick 
Daniel Packard 
Job Packard 
Jabez Pratt 
Philemon Parsons 
Ebenezer Parsons 
Henry Parsons 
Job Prince 
Josiah Parris 
Dominicus Record 
David Record 
Jonathan Record 
Oren Record 
Simon Record 
Jonathan Roberts 
Joseph Roberts, Jr. 
James Roberts 
Joseph Roberts 

Non-Kesidents. 

Asa Bearce 
\\'illiam Beard 
John Woodman 
Jabez c;ushman 



Jonathan Roberts, Jr. 
John Roberts 
Stephen Richardson 
John Richardson 
Tobias Ricker 
George Ricker 
Luke Ryerson 
Jeremiah Rolfe 
Stephen Rider 
John Rider 
Consider Sampson 
Benj. Spaulding 
Benj. Spaulding, Jr. 
Leonard Spaulding 
John Swett 
Nathaniel Swett 
William Swett 
Jasiel Smith 
Seba Smith 
William Silley 
Simon Silley 
Benjamin Silley 
William Silley, Jr. 
Peter Silley 
John Symonds 
Jotham Shaw 
Israel Smith 
Andrew Twombly 
Jesse Turner 
Samuel Tyler 
Samuel Taylor 
Joseph Tyler 
Jabez Taylor 
Richard Taylor 
Bani Teague 
Asa Thayer 
Alexander Thayer 
Samuel Totain 
Tristram Warren 
Edmund Warren 
David Warren 
John Warren 
James Waterman 
Ichabod Waterman 
Samuel Webb 
Jacob Whitman 
Joshua AVescott 
Ephraim Wescott 
Caleb Voung 
John Young 
Joshua Young 



William Cobb 
Charles Bisbee 
Edward Packard 



738 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



HEADS OF FAMIIiIES IK 1800 



Mark Andrews 
Tliomas Allen 
John Allen 
Woodward Allen 
Abijah Buck, Jr. 
Abijah Buck 
Jonathan Buck 
Nathaniel Buck 
Nathaniel Buck, 
John Buck 
Moses Buck 
John Buck, 2d 
John Buck, 3d 
William Berry 
James Bonney 
Moses Bisbee 
David Brigss 
William Brock 
John Brock 
John Bicknell 
Simeon Bicknell 
Amos Brown 
Thomas Berry 
Nathaniel Chase 
Joseph Chase 
Daniel Crockett 
John Carsley 
Jonas Coburn 
Asaph Coburn 
Lemuel Crooker 
John Clay 
Gershom Cole 
Jabez Churchill 
Eliphaz Curtis 
Bevi Cushman 
Thomas Coburn 
Thomas Coburn, J 
William Churchill 
Gershom Davis 
Joshua Davis 
Abial Drake 
John Drake 
,Jbnathan Dammon 
Holmes Doty 
William Doble 
Stephen Drew 
Joel Foster 
Nathaniel Foster 
Isaac Foster 
Ellas Fogg- 
Samuel Farrar 
David Farrar 
David Farrar, Jr. 
Nicholas Fernald 



No. in 




Vo. in 


No. in 


Familj 


Family 


Family 


9 


Jonah Fobes 


5 


5oorge Roberts 


4 


10 


Zadoc Fobes 


5 


Luke Ryerson 


13 


3 


Thomas Faunce 


4 


John Rider 


7 


5 


Daniel Faunce 


5 


William Runnels 


8 


5 


Samuel Frink 




Dominicus Record 


6 


3 


Frost Gary 


7 


Oren Record 


4 


2 


Nathaniel Gammon 


9 


Simon Record 


9 


8 


David Gammon 


9 


David Record 


9 


r. 4 


Jonathan Gardner 


8 


Jonathan Record 


5 


11 


Luther Gardner 


2 


Stephen Richardson 9 


> 3 


Enoch Hall 


7 


David Richardson 


4 


9 


Nathaniel Hall 


6 


John Richardson 


4 


5 


Noah Hall 


2 


Jonathan Roberts 


.5 


13 


Abraham Hardin 


7 


Joseph Roberts, Jr 


. 11 


3 


Jeremiah Hodgdon 


7 


Joseph Roberts 


2 


7 


James Hussey 


7 


John Roberts 


3 


S 


William Harlow 


10 


William Silley 


3 


4 


Ephraim Hatiiaway 


8 


Benjamin . Silley 


5 


8 


Elisha Howard 


5 


John Swett 


8 


6 


Amariah Harris 


2 


Jotham Shaw 


8 


5 


Timothy Hutchinson 4 


Israel Smith 


8 


8 


William Irish 


3 


Ephraim Spencer 


I 


10 


Thomas Irish 


6 


John Symonds 


3 


12 


Bbenezer Irish 


8 


Benj. Spaulding 


5 


7 


John Irish 


2 


Leonard Spaulding 


5 


4 


John Irish, Jr. 


7 


Benj. Spaulding, Ji 


. t; 


7 


James Jordan 


11 


Abel Spaulding 


4 


7 


Samuel Jenkins 


2 


Consider Sampson 


6 


3 


Samuel Jenkins, Jr. 


9 


Samuel Taylor 


4 


8 


Thomas Joselyn 


7 


Jabez Taylor 


4 


7 


Jonah Keen 


4 


Bani Teague 


3 


12 


Abijah Lapham 


7 


Richard Taylor 


6 


8 


Thomas I^incoln 


5 


Samuel Thomas 


4 


4 


James Lewis 


f: 


Andrew Twombly 


8 


4 


William Lowell 


■ 7 


Israel Tucker 


3 


6 


Stephen Lowell 


3 


Samuel Tucker 


7 


3 


Thomas Lowell 


7 


Jesse Turner 


S 


6 


Joe :Mayo 


5 


Asa Thayer 


6 


9 


Benj. Milliken 


8 


Alexander Thayer 


o 


5 


Elisha Morton 


.") 


Samuel Taylor, Jr. 


G 


6 


John Mathews 


9 


Edmund Warren 


3 


X 


Daniel ^Merrill 


4 


Joshua Wescott 





6 


Josiah Parris 


2 


John Warren 


9 


4 


Daniel Packard 


8 


Tristram Warren 


4 


10 


Job Packard 


9 


Tristram ^^'ar^en, J 


r. 4 


9 


Reuben Packard 


2 


James Waterman 


6 


8 


Daniel Packard, Jr. 


10 


Jacob M'hilman 


7 


3 


Philemon Parsons 


2 


Samuel Webb 


3 


4 


Henry Parsons 


4 


Noah Waiei-man 


7 


6 


Job Prince 


7 


ichabod \^'aterman 


7 


3 


Eleazer Parsons 


6 


Caleb foung 


9 


9 


Philemon Parsons. J 


•. 6 


John Young- 


3 


2 


Jonathan Philbrick 


t> 


Joshua Young- 


9 


5 


Tobias Ricker 


8 







I 



Phebe Brown is given as the head of a family, but she was the only 
member of it. Lydia Sprague was also named as the head of a family, 
of which there was one member besides herself, a female under 10 years 
of age. Total heads of families with Phebe Brown and Lydia Sprague, 
164. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



■:}9 



CENSUS OF 1850 



H. Atwood. Jr.. mil. 27 
Mary Ann Atwood 26 
Charles Atwood 1 

Elisha Buck, 20, f. 54 
Caroline Buck 51 

Arminta Buck 20 

Lonna Buck 17 

Lucretia Buck 1-3 

Albion Buck 11 

Llewellyn Buck 9 

Samuel Buck, f. 59 

Mahala Buck 40 

Cynthia Buck 19 

Diantha Buck 17 

Octavia Buck 16 

Celia B. Buck 5 

Cyrus Record, f. 60 

Arvilla Record 4 7 

Bennett Record, sh. 15 
Julius A. Record 6 
Julia Record 6 

2d Asa S. Record, f. 29 
Sarah Record 32 

Edg-ar Record 6 

Martha Record 3 

Wm. Henry Record 2 
James Spaulding, f. 47 
Cynthia Spaulding- 48 
Zilpha P. Spaulding 18 
Green. J. Spaulding- 15 
Emma F. Spaulding 6 
Wm. Bisbee, pow. 34 
Emerline Bisbee 35 

Francis M. Bisbee 11 
Win. Spaulding 4 5 

Jane Spaulding 37 

Melissa Spaulding 17 
Alex. Spaulding 15 

Mary Spaulding 13 

Martha Spaulding 10 
Aretus Farrar 38 

Diantha Farrar 33 

Emily R. Farrar 15 
James M. Farrar 13 
Diantha Farrar 11 

Aramantha Farrar 9 
Mary M. Farrar 7 

Wm. W. Farrar 3 

Abel Spaulding, g. 40 
Hannah Spaulding 30 
John R. Given, sh. 26 
Judith A. Given 23 
John M. Given 1 

L. Spaulding, 25, f. 80 
Margaret Spaulding 76 



2d M. Richardson 39 
Abby Richardson 9 

T. Richardson 7 

Barnard Swallow, f. 42 
Drusilla Swallow 40 
Olintha A. Swallow 14 
Preston C. Swallow 12 
Milton F. Swallow 10 
Cyril P. Swallow 8 
Ada M. Swallow 6 

Olive A. Swallow 4 
Sidney D. Swallow 1 
Deplura Bisbee, tr. 30 
Lydia Bisbee 25 

Alforetta Bisbee 25 



Infant 



6 mo. 



Luther Turner, sh. 62 

Polly Turner 61 

Levi Turner, sh. 19 

2d Lysander Monk 28 

Betsy Monk 22 

Levi Monk 2 

S. Robinson, pow. 34 

Lavina liobinson 29 

Horatio Robinson 4 

Thomas Dammon, f. 51 

Margery Dammon 50 

Jonathan Dammon 20 

Betsey A. Dammon 13 

Polly D. Dammon 10 

Harriet Dammon 6 

Susannah Dammon 4 

W. Heald, 25, mil. 46 

Eliza Heald 45 

Geo. W. Heald, f. 21 

Caroline D. Heald 16 

Eliza Heald 13 

William Heald 9 

Benj. F. Heald 6 

Enos D. Heald 3 

J. C. Heald. mil. m. 20 

Elias ISIonk, car. 31 

Eliza Monk 27 

Rosilla Monk 4 

Emma A. Monk 2 

Ronaldo Monk 1 

Dennis Bisbee, bl. 28 

Basheba Bisbee 32 

Mary M. Bisbee 6 
Dennis A. J. Bisbee 4 

Winslow Z. Bisbee 3 

Lucetta Bisbee 1 

Mary Rice 77 

Elizabeth B. Rice 40 

2d Jane Sprague 58 



Ruel Gray 26 

T. Warren, 20, f. 4 2 
Jumalier Warren 43 
Frances M. Warren 12 
James A. Warren 7 
Esther Warren 67 

Lucetta Warren 35 

John Cresey, car. 57 
Hannah Cresey 54 

Hannah Cresey 23 

John Cresey, car. 21 
Benj. Cresey, car. 18 
Isaiah Cresey, car. 16 
Mary Cressey 13 

H. Hodgdon, f. 21 

Patience Hodgdon 19 
Sylvia A. Hodgdon 10 
Henry Hodgdon 7 

Jona. Dammon, f. 83 
Mary Dammon 72 

Hannah Dammon 76 
Abigail Hodgdon 13 
Philo Winslow, sh. 23 
l-.aura Winslow 15 

Alfred Winslow, sh. 26 
Eliza Winslow 17 

Wm. Witham, min. 56 
Hannah Witham 57 

Hannah Witham 29 
Eliza A. Witham 21 
S. Dammon, f. 35 

Sarah Dammon 26 

Margaret J. Dammon 8 
Albina A. Dammon 5 
Lanora M. Dammon 1 
C. Dammon, f. 32 

Bethiah Dammon 29 
Lydia Dammon 11 

Mahala A. Dammon 10 
Sarah Dammon 8 

Louisa Dammon 2 

Wm. P. Hammond 40 
Lucy Hammond 37 

Roxanna Hammond 18 
Arabella Hammond 16 
Eliza Hammond 12 

Edith Hammond 9 

Gideon Hammond 6 

Joseph Hammond 78 
Lydia Hammond 72 
Ezekicl Dammon, f. 51 
Parmelia Dammon 55 
Diantha Foss 24 

Mosley Dammon. f. 21 
Mcrritt F. Dammon 18 



740 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



Aratas Damnion, f. 15 

Elizabeth Dammon 12 

James Hooper 11 

Alvan Foss, f. 29 

Sophronia Foss 7 
Infant 2 mos. 

Daniel Fletcher, f. 50 

Mary Fletcher 50 

Daniel Fletcher. Jr. IS 

Rebecca Fletcher 16 

Omitta Fletcher 14 

Gideon Fletcher 12 

James S. Buck, f. 4 4 

Lydia Buck 46 

Roscoe G. Buck 15 

Mary Jane Buck 13 

Henry M. Buck 10 

Hannah C. Buck 8 

Austin Buck 5 

Martin Crockett, f. 48 

Prudentia Crockett 39 

Geo. B. Crockett 3 

Helen J. Morton 11 

Hiram Andrews, f. 40 

Shuah Andrews 35 

Melissa Andrews 15 

Melvin Andrews 10 

Adolphus Andrews 8 

Sarah Andrews 4 

Shuah Bicknell 75 

Joseph Hall, f. 53 

Peggy Hall 49 

Sarah Hall 20 

Justus C. Hall 6 

Keziah L. Hall 14 

Joseph H. Hall, f. 26 

Jane H. Hall 29 
Ada F. Hall 3 mos. 

Melzar Buck, f. 4 6 

Almeda Buck 40 

PYancis B. Buck 19 

Vesta M. Buck 17 

Hannah L. Buck 13 

Addison Buck 10 

Augustus G. Buck 9 

Arabine E. Buck 6 

Romanzo K. Buck 3 
Miller J. Buck 6 mos. 

I. Corthell, car. 58 

Sarah Corthell 53 

Stephen E. Corthell 13 

John Brock, t". 53 

Tamar Brock 63 

Jos. Mathews, ta. 45 

Alex. Mayhew, f. 36 

Mary Mayhew 33 

Mary Ann Mayhew 13 
Armitta B. Mayhew 10 
Frances M. Majiiew 7 



America F. Mayhew 5 
Sylvia E. Mayhew 1 
2d Thomas Rowe, f. 26 
Desire Ann Rowe 24 
Christania A. Rowe 4 
Jas. M. Johnson, f. 42 
Ann Johnson 44 

Geo. H. Johnson 14 

Simeon Johnson 12 
Samuel T. Johnson 10 
Phebe A. Johnson 6 
Mary L. Johnson 1 

Ann Tucker 76 

John Dunham, f. 28 

Susan W. Dunham 32 
Charles H. Dunham 6 
William F. Dunham 2 
James Bicknell, f. 48 
Judith Bicknell 48 

Jas. P. Bicknell, f. 23 
Virgil Bicknell 17 

Columbia Bicknell 15 
Levi Bicknell 12 

Georgianna Bicknell 7 
Isabella Bicknell 5 

Juliette Bicknell 3 

Sally Bowker 51 

Bradford Morse, f. 35 
Lydia J. Morse 34 

Sarah E. Morse ~ 7 
Roxy Jane Morse 3 

Merritt Farrar, f. 32 
Arabella Farrar 24 

Mary Farrar 62 

Or in Farrar, f. 42 

Marcella Farrar 34 
Winslow Evans, f. 30 
Sophronia Evans 28 
Geo. M. Evans 6 mos. 
Isaac Tucker, 20, f. 77 
Hannah Tucker 69 

Isaac Tucker, Jr. f. 29 
Esther Tucker 25 

Wm. Pearson, f. 59 
Susan Pearson 59 

Augustus Pearson 16 
Benj. Pearson, sh. 23 
Susan Pearson 20 

Daniel Faunce, f. 84 
Rebecca Faunce 76 

Rebecca S. Faunce 51 
Jacob Allen, f. 64 

Freeman Allen, f. 34 
Ann Allen 30 

Margaret Allen 16 

William Roscoe 13 

E. Harlow, 20, min. 61 
Laodicea Harlow 60 
Loadicea Harlow 30 



Samuel Harlow, f. 24 
Melinda H. Harlow IS 
Nath'l Harlow, f. 69 
Lucy Harlow 48 

Nathl Harlqw. Jr. 23 
J. Turner. :M.D. 21 

A. K. Ramsdell, f. 26 
Lottie Ramsdell 25 

James M. Ramsdell 4 
Nancy D. Ramsdell 3 
Albert O. Ramsdell 1 
Ansel Bisbee 76 

Ephraim B. Swett, f. 31 
Dorcas Swett 28 

Sarah E. Swett 5 

Henry W. Swett 3 

Isaac O. Swett 1 

Dorcas Bailey 73 

Benj. Maxim, f. 35 

Susan Maxim 32 

Maria L. Maxim 10 

Henry H. Maxim 9 

Olban Maxim 7 

Wm. Wallace Maxim 5 
Benj. F. Maxim 3 

Amanda Maxim 1 

Rotheus B. AVaite, f. 29 
Martha Waite 30 

Albion R. Smith 10 

Asa Taylor, f. 50 

Lavina Taylor 41 

Rotheus Taylor 5 

Carroll Taylor 3 

Margaret Record 36 
John Thayer, f. 62 
Susan Thayer 57 

2d John G. Thayer 34 
Mary Thayer 33 

Persis Thayer 4 

Isaac S. Thayer 2 

Amos Winslow, f. 58 
Ruhamah Winslow 57 
Solomon Winslow 29 
Amos K. Winslow 15 
Maria Churchill 84 

Otis Bicknell, f. 50 
Martha Bicknell 4 6 

Charles Bicknell 25 
Cynthia Bicknell 15 
Mary Bicknell 12 

Ellen Bicknell 7 

Martha Bicknell 2 

Janet Bicknell 22 

Jas. N. Waldron, f. 45 
Sarah Waldron 39 

Olive Ann Waldron 19 
Sarah J. Waldron 17 
Linton Waldron 15 

Milton Waldron 13 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



741 



Josephine Waldron 11 
Frederick Waldron 
Ashbyline "Waldron 7 
Clarence B. Waldron 5 
Julia V.'aldron 4 

Infant 7 nios. 

Wm. L. Taylor, f. 40 
Drusilla Taylor 39 

Albion Taylor 15 

Laura Taylor 9 

Jabez Taylor 84 

Dorcas Taylor 76 

Albert Record, 1. 40 
Shepherd Churchill, f. 
Mary Churchill 59 

Josiah Churchill, f. 25 
S. Churchill, Jr., f. 21 
Lucy Ann Churchill IC 
Martin Churchill, f. 40 
Betsy Churchill 36 

Nathaniel Churchill 16 
Hannah Churchill 14 
Emily Churchill 12 

Amanda Churchill 10 
Clarinda Churchill 5 
Asaph Churchill 2 

Rose Churchill 1 mo. 
Martin Thomas, f. 60 
Almira Thomas 58 

Charles Thomas 24 

Rebecca Thomas 22 
Sampson Thomas 9 
Solomon Doble, f. 34 
Phebe V. Doble 34 

Daniel Mason 24 

Edwin G. Doble 9 

Jerusha R. Doble 8 

Angelia M. Doble 6 
Flonna A. Doble 3 

Thomas Faunce, f. 80 
Mary P'aunce 71 

Jos. Turner, f. 55 

Sophronia Turner 4 4 
Julia Turner 18 

Calvin Robbins, f. 58 
Ruth Robbins 49 

Luther Robbins, sh. 19 
George Robbins 8 

Calvin Robbins, Jr. 4 
L. Edgecomb, car. 34 
Lucy E. Bdgeconib 27 
L. Lowe, 20, f. 37 

Sarah J. Lowe 30 

Romanzo C. Lowe 1 
James Lewis 76 

Betsy Lewis 79 

Betsy Lowe 57 

Mary Lowe 4 1 

Noah Hall, 20, f. 70 



64 

36 

f. 25 



1". 



IMary Hall 
lOunice Hall 
Andrew J. Hall 
I'hilip C. Mason 
Lucy Mason 50 

Adoniram J. Mason 18 
Bradley V. Mason 15 
Melvina H. Mason 12 
Emily C. Mason 7 

2d Jas. Waterman. 85 
Keziah Waterman SO 
Xaphtali Mason, f. 33 
Arvilla S. Mason 38 
Appleton F. Mason 9 
Orissa A. Mason 5 

Ethic Farrar, f. 39 
Betsy Farrar 
Hannibal Farrar 
Miranda E. Farrar 
Roana J. Farrar 
Samuel W. Farrar 
Charles Farrar 
Floriette Farrar 
Brainerd Towle 
Ellen Towle 
Henrietta D. Buck 
Henrietta Buck 
Louisa Buck 
2d Samuel T. Buck, 
:Miriam B. Buck 
Julia C. Buck 
Charlotte A. Buck 
Sarah J. Buck 
Moses Brown 
Su.<5annah Brown 
William F. Brown 
Lucius Brown 
Moses Brown, 1. 37 

Susannah Brown 5 

Hiram Hathaway, f. 60 
Ira Gardner. 40, f. 55 
Xaoma Gardner 51 

Oscar F. Gardner 
Ephraim Lowe, f. 
Maria Lowe 
Horace Lowe 
Delphina Lowe 
Dexter M. Lowe 
Ozias M. Lowe 
Sewall F. P. Lowe 
Infant 6 mos. 

Alex. Robinson, 20, 37 
Adaline Robinson 36 
Elmer Robinson 12 
Caroline S. Robinson 5 
Sylvia Robinson 22 

Sarah F. Andrews 14 
Marshall J. Haskell 34 



f. 32 

22 

4 9 

11 

5 

35 

37 

10 

7 

3 

8 

36 

15 

12 



Joanna Haskell 25 

Otis D. Haskell 1 

Alex. Cushman 37 

Ruth J. Cushman 29 

Lorenzo Cushman 5 

^Mary Cushman 3 

Cynthia Cushman 1 

Timothy Record, f. 65 

Abigail Record 65 

Stephen L. Record 29 

Emery T. Record 22 

Abigail Mayhew 27 

Alexander Mayhew 8 

Emery Mayhew 3 

Jacob Leonard, f. 55 

Nathaniel Leonard 57 

Hope Leonard 53 

Susannah Leonard 48 

Perez Stubbs, f. 32 

Mary Stubbs 27 

Henry H. Stubbs 5 

Laurettc Stubbs 4 

Julia M. Stubbs 2 

Charles N. ■ — _ 15 

Levi Jordan, 1. 30 

Caleb Cushman, 30, 71 

Polly Cushman 67 

Gideon Cushman, f. 35 

Eveline Cushman 28 

Amanda Cushman 10 

Samuel Cushman 8 

Julia F. Cushman 6 

Cordelia Cushman 3 

Nathan Maxim, f. 39 

Arvilla Maxim 40 

Nathan Maxim, Jr. 13 

Adaline Maxim 14 

Sarah Maxim 10 

Charles Maxim 5 

Rachel Maxim 3 

Isaac Turner, f. 59 

Margaret Turner 54 

Lucinda Turner 20 

Decatur Turner, sh. 19 

Harriet Turner 14 

Luther Turner 12 

Elijah Jordan, Jr., f. 32 

Relief Jordan 32 

Henry M. Jordan 14 

Samuel K. Jordan 10 

Ro.sanna Jordan 8 

Alfred Monk, f. 61 

Relief Monk 58 

Levi Monk 21 

Melissa A. Monk 19 

Isaac J. Monk 12 

Sam'l B. Churchill 41 

Lavina Churchill 41 

Cordelia Churchill 16 



742 



HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 



Ezra Churchill 13 

Charles Churchill 9 

Mary B. Churchill 4 

Julia Churchill 8 mos. 
N. B. Marston, f. 46 
Martha M. Marston 35 
Geo. D. Marston, sh. 16 
William W. Marston 13 



N. C. Marston 
Bela Churchill. , 
Sarah Churchill 
Moses Merrill, f 
Joan Merrill 
O. F. Merrill 



10 
61 
61 
23 
23 
9 mos. 



f. 



23 
19 

mos. 

f. 30 



2d Thos. Merrill 
Jane Merrill 
Fred Merrill 
Martin Turner, 
Rachel Turner 27 

Josephine Turner 3 
Wesley Turner 2 

Infant 5 mos. 

Chas. Turner, f. 33 

Rachel Turner 30 

Mary J. Turner 8 

Otis G. Turner, f. 32 
Sophia A. Turner 27 
Benj. J. Turner 6 

Otis G. Turner, Jr. 3 
Benj. Jordan, Jr., f. 26 
Sylvia A. Jordan 25 
Louisa A. Jordan 3 

2d Benj. Jordan, f. 61 
Anna Jordan 56 

Moses Jordan 32 

Narcissa Jordan 20 
Anna Jordan 16 

Adelbert S. Jordan 9 
Samuel Chesley, f. 50 
Sarah Chesley 49 

Betsey Chesley 25 

Caroline Chesley 24 
Adaline Chesley 24 

James M. Chesley 21 
Sarah L. Chesley 11 
Sarah Chesley S3 

Joshua Whitman, f. 62 
Catharine Whitman 50 
Russell S. Whitman 24 
Andrew J. Whitman 20 
Ozias Whitman 19 

Dora P. Whitman 12 
Rose C. Whitman 16 
2d J. E. Whitman 31 
Phebe Whitman 28 

Henry W. Whitman 7 
Alden C. Whitman 3 
Charles F. Whitman 2 
Ellis Whitman 2 mos. 



E. D. Whitman, f. 35 
Julia A. Whitman 29 
Abel C. T. Whitman 11 
John C. Whitman 10 
Elizabeth Whitman 8 
William S. Whitman 6 
Eliza Ann Whitman 2 
Stephen Davis, f. 77 
Hiram Fogg 41 

Elizabeth Fogg 24 

Miriam E. Fogg 2 

Polly Davis 58 

Bethiah Dammon 16 
Moses Packard, f. 62 
Betsy Packard 60 

A. G. Packard, f. 23 
Betsy J. Packard 20 
Jere. Packard, f. 28 
Rebecca Packard 28 
John Packard 1 mo. 
Edward Lothrop, f. 61 
Rebecca Eothrop 59 
Delana Lothrop 33 

Rebecca Lothrop 29 
Abby Lothrop 26 

Bethuel K. Lothrop 23 
Bethiah Lothrop 20 
Elhanan W. Lothrop 18 
Louisa A. Lothrop 16 
Lorinda V. Lothrop 19 
2d Margaret Libbey 21 
Nancy J. Libbey 4 

Jesse Packard, f. 52 
Joanna Packard 47 

Daniel Packard 26 

Benjamin Packard 19 
Jesse Packard, Jr. 17 
John Packard 16 

Betsy Packard 14 

James Packard 12 

Joanna Packard 10 

Jennette Packard 8 

Elsie Packard 6 

Florence I. Packard 1 
C. G. Packard 2 mos. 
Margerie Lothrop 27 
Melissa A. Lothroi) 5 
Elias A. Lothrop 3 
Nancy R. Lothrop 1 
Elijah Jordan, 20, f. 58 
Basheba Jordan 53 

Mary Jordan 16 

Celinda Jordan 9 

2d Arad Jordan, f. 28 
Eunice Jordan 24 

Sylvia A. Jordan 5 

Sam'l B. Perry. 20, 49 
Sarah Perry 4 5 



Barnabas C. Perry 
Albinus P. Perry 
Abigail C. Perry 
Martha D. Perry 
Bethiah T. Perry 
Ezekiel Record, f. 
Almira Record 
Mary E. Record 
David Record 
Jonathan Record 
Susan Recoi'd 
Thomas Record, f. 
Abigail Record 
Otis F. Record 
Betsy Record 
Lucy W. Record 
John P. Record 
George B. Record 
2d Dana M. Record 
Lucy H. Record 
Ximenes Philbrick 
Rachel Philbrick 
Preston Philbrick 
Andrew J. Philbrick 
Enoch Philbrick 
Sarah Philbrick 
Annis Philbrick 
Sarah Philbrick 
Miles Long, f. 
Anna Long 
Geo. W. Long 
Charles M. Long- 
Henry C. Long- 
Eliza A. Long- 
Sally L. Long 
Persis C. Long 
Thankful C. Long 
John H. Skillings 
Mary Skillings 
Ann Skillings 
Mary Skillings 
Hannah Skillings 
John Skillings 
Susan F. Skillings 
Lucy J. Skillings 
James Skillings 
Miles L. Holmes, f. 
Louisa Holmes 
Samuel Holi-nes, f. 
Sally Jack 
Danville Jack 
Levi Turner, f. 
Annis Turner 
Eliza J. Whitman 
Libbe'us Robbins, f. 
Mary M. Robbins 
Emily E. Robbins 
Thomas Long, 20, f. 
Bathsheba Long 



45 
39 
17 
16 
12 
10 
8 
6 
3 
50 
46 
22 
20 
18 
15 
12 
9 
7 
69 
70 
26 
30 
6 
65 
63 
12 
56 
32 
11 
79 
74 



HISTORY OF BUCKFiELD 



■43 



Wm. W. Bacon, f. 33 

Thankful Bacon 31 

Jonathan Irish, 20, 41 

Isabella Irish 3G 

Geo. P. Iri.=;h 8 

Elizabeth S. Irish 6 

Mary Jane Irish .5 

Franklin S. Irish 1 

Elizabeth Irish SO 

Thos. Irish, f. 50 

Eveline Irish .34 

Henry D. Irish 14 

Jonathan K. Irish 12 

Emily Irish 9 

Lewis Record, f. 63 

Phebe Record 4 

Sarah Record 26 

Lewis Record, f. 22 

Lucius Record 15 

Melissa Record 17 

Mary Record 13 

Charlotte Record 11 

Aurelia Record !• 

Sophronia Record 6 

Fostina Record 4 

Benj. Record 1 
Infant 8 mos. 

Jona. Gammon, .53 

Margaret Gammon 52 

Jas. E. Gammon, f. 21 

Mary F. Gammon 17 
Margaret J. Gammon S 

Ebenezer Snell, f. 40 
Remember H. Snell 30 

Calvin W. Snell 10 

Eleazer Snell 7 

Charles D. Snell 4 

Moses Snell 1 nio. 

Delphina Davis 63 

Robert Dunlap, f. 64 

Polly Dunlap .54 

Israel M. Elliott, f. 37 

Caroline Elliott 37 

Harriet A. Elliott 10 

Daniel H. Elliott 4 

And. Cushman, fish 70 

Polly Cushman 63 

William Cushman 17 

William Brown, f. 35 

Martha Brown 38 

Eva I. Brown 4 

Samuel Darling 47 

Samuel Darling, f. 47 

Wm. H. H. Jenkins — 

John Darling, f. SO 

Sarah Darling 59 

Olive Gilbert 54 

Alvah Gilbert, f. 51 

Sally Gilbert 53 



Thankful Jenkins 81 
Rebecca Gilbert 50 

Polly Moody 48 

Stephen Hutchinson 63 
Janet Hutchinson 55 
Gusta Hutchinson 21 
Freeman Record, 1. 32 
2d Mark Hutchinson 30 
Eliza Hutchinson 27 
Infant 1 mo. 

Josiah Hutchinson 22 
Martha Hutchinson 29 
Hannah Hutchinson 47 
Lucius Young, f. 33 

Salina Young 32 

Ellen M. Young 11 

James H. Y'oung 8 

Lucius L. Young 5 

Lizzie Young 3 mos. 
Moses Young, f. 60 
Vesta Young 58 

H. H. Hutchinson. 60 
Carrie Hutchinson 58 
2d H. Hutchinson 36 
Ruth S. Hutchinso" 38 
Caroline Hutchinson 12 
Phronia Hutchinson 10 
Geo. D. Hutchinson 6 
Elkanah Irish, f. 56 
Polly Irish 55 

Mary Ann Irish 26 

Thos. A. Irish, f. 21 
Jacob C. Irish, f. 18 
Samuel R. Irish, f. 18 
Sally Decoster 57 

Charles Merrill, f. 25 
Sarah' Merrill 21 

Daniel M. Merrill 2 
David Record, f. 66 

Fanny Record 62 

Mercy Record 40 

Almon Record, f. 28 
David A. Record, f. 20 
Jotham Roberts 62 

Thos. J. Roberts 24 
Rebecca Roberts 20 
Augustus Roberts 17 
Hubbard Lowell, f. 26 
Annie Lowell 22 

Infant 8 mos. 

2d Mark Lowell, 20, 58 
Lydia Lowell 4 9 

Laura .1. Lowill 1 1) 

Lydia E. Lowi-ll 1 1 
Ebenezer Record, f. (.2 
Nancy Record 4 

Alonzo Record 16 

Lorenzo Recoi-d 12 

Lewis Manly, bl. 79 



Leonard Russell. 23, 39 

Lavina Russell 39 

Jason Russell 14 

Edwin Russell 12 

Thurston Rus.sell 11 

Amanda Russell 8 

Ellery Russell 6 

Alvarado Russell 5 

Laura J. Russell 3 

Mel v in Russell 1 

Simon Record, f. 58 

Catherine Record 59 

Levi Record, car. 24 

Philo Record. 1. 21 

Wm. Record, sh. 26 

Henry Record, sh. 19 

Eliza Ann Record 17 

William Irish, f. 57 

Submit Irish 54 

Susan Hall 80 

Moses Lowe, f. 50 

Margaret Lowe 4 5 

Louisa Lowe 21 

Jelferson Lowe 18 

William W. Lowe 16 

Calista J. Lowe 12 

Cordelia H. Lowe 10 

Julia A. Lowe ^ 

Helen M. Lowe 5 

Persis I. Lowe 3 

Noah Prince, f. 25, sta. 

agt. 53 

Sarah Prince 46 

X. Kimball Prince 22 

Augusta M. Prince 18 

Ardelia H. Prince 14 

Charles H. Prince 13 

Mary R. Prince 9 

Deering Mayhew. f. 37 

PoUy Mayhew 27 

Cordelia Mayhew 9 

Augustus Mayhew 6 
Charles E. Mayhew 2 

Philip Mason, f. 25 

Mary Ann Mason 28 
Rodolphus W. Mason 8 
Wm. E. Mason 7 mos. 

Dan. D. Spaulding 30 

Roxy M. Spaulding 29 

Gustus Spaulding 4 
Alonzo I). Spaulding 2 
Infant 1 mo. 

Chas. Stephens. 35. 33 
Eveline D. Stephens 31 

Charles Stephens 6 

George W. Proctor 14 

Edmund S. Dean 29 

John Buck. f. 30 

Abbie Buck 23 



744 



HISTORY OF BUCKFiKLD 



LeRoy Buck 1 

Ellen Buck 48 

Susannah Buck 23 

Benj. F. Buck 19 

Nancy Ann Buck IS 
Abijah Buck, f. 3S 

Arvilla Buck 35 

Florilla A. Buck 13 
Rebecca J. Buck 11 
Martha O. Buck S 

Zadoc A. Buck 5 

Benson Cushnian, f. 62 
Elizabeth Cushman 55 
Mary E. Cushman 24 
Ardelia Cushman 22 
Charles C. Cushman 17 
David Farrar, f. 48 

Cynthia Farrar 4 5 

Livona Farrar 24 

Sarah C. Farrar 17 
Emily C. Farrar 14 
Jason Farrar 11 

Clarinda P'arrar 10 

Barzilla Latham, f. 72 
Polly Latham 69 

Susan B. Latham 25 
2d A. S. Latham, f. 40 
Judith Latham 4 2 

Chas. D. Latham 17 
S. Bradford Latham 11 
Arthur B. Latham 7 

Aurilla S. Latham 3 
Bbenezer Lincoln, f. 55 
Elizabeth Lincoln 55 
2d Otis Andrews 33 
Sarah C. Andrews 28 
Sarah E. Andrews 7 
Ebenezer L. Andrews 3 
Mary Andrews 5 mos. 
Silena Forbes 71 

Chas. C. Dailey, sh. 21 
Mary Austin 35 

Daniel Austin, f. 50 
Prudence Austin 38 
Vesta G. Austin 17 

Leonard Austin 16 

Julia S. Austin 12 

Rosanna Austin 10 

Esther A. Austin 9 
Daniel Austin 8 

Grenville Austin 4 

Alonzo Austin 3 

Ebenezer Austin 82 
Mehitable Austin 81 
Jonah Hall, 35, f. 55 
Anna Hall 54 

2d Albion K. Hall, f. 34 
Dorcas A. Hall 2S 

Delphina P. Hall 23 



Oscar B. Hall 14 

Susan J. Hall 12 

Zach. Gammon, f. 33 

Nancy Gammon 34 

Joseph Gammon 11 

Thos. Lincoln, f. 49 

Lucinda Lincoln 39 

Betsy L. Gammon 9 

Isaac Shaw, f. 44 

Joanna Shaw 40 

Sabrina E. Shaw 18 

Angelia J. Shaw 15 

Eliza F. Shaw 10 

Mary A. Shaw 9 

Sarah Shaw 86 

Ervin Merrill 16 

H. Sylvester, Jr. 4 5 

Xoa Sylvester 4 7 

Dolly Taylor 53 
R. Thompson, 20, f. 53 

Betsey Thompson 4 9 

Geo. H. Thompson 20 
E P. Thompson, sh. 18 

Adeline Thompson 17 

M. Ann Thompson 10 
Harriet B. Thompson 8 

Joseph Chase, f. 54 

Almira Chase 58 

Lewis M. Chase, sh. 20 

Eunice H. Chase 25 

Julia E. Chase 1 

Nancy Gilbert 80 

Lucian Philbrick, 1. 34 

Miriam Philbrick 28 

Almira J. Philbrick 7 

Joseph F. Philbrick 5 

Zenas S. Philbrick 2 
Xim. Philbrick 8 mos. 

Thomas Chase, f. 43 

Esther M. Chase 38 

R. Malona Chase 15 

Roscoe G. Chase 12 

Abby F. Chase 10 

Charles Chase 9 

George H. Chase 6 

Howard A. Chase ,3 

Lucy A. Chase 1 

Nath'l Chase, min. 88 

.Joanna Chase 69 

Amos Shaw, f. 56 

Mary Shaw 50 

Wilson Shaw, 'sh. 23 

Eleanor Shaw 21 

Stephen D. Chase 35 

Olive Chase 35 

Ozias DeCoster, f. 41 

Elizabeth DeCoster 40 

Mazeppa DeCoster 16 

Ozias DeCoster, Jr. 14 



Edwin DeCoster 11 

Cyrus DeCoster 6 

G. DeCoster 5 mos. 

Sally Morton 73 

Cyrus Irish, sh. 35 

Catherine Irish 29 

John C. Irish 7 

Infant 1 mo. 

Sylvanus Irish, f. 69 
Mehitable Irish 65 

Benj. Irish 20 

Benj. H. Record, f. 31 
Phebe Record 27 

Sylvira Record 9 mos. 
Jesse Shaw, f. 60 

Catherine Shaw 58 

Maria Shaw 29 

Jotham Shaw 24 

Jotham Shaw, sh. 24 
Georg-e W. Shaw 17 
Abel Irish, f. 31 

Adeline Irish 29 

Jerome Irish 1 

Daniel Thompson, f. 63 
S^bil Thompson 62 

Frank S. Thompson 19 
Mary Thompson 26 

Lewis Mason, f. 41 
Harriet Mason 33 

Albina Mason 12 

Albert Mason 9 

Arrington F. Mason 7 
Charles Mason 3 

Lewis C. Mason 10 m. 
Sam'l B. Teaton, f. 38 
Parmelia Yeaton 35 
Samuel Yeaton 14 

Joshua Yeaton 12 

Charles H. Yeaton 10 
Stephen C. Yeaton 8 
George Yeaton 7 

Simeon Yeaton 5 

Ruth C. Yeaton 3 

Thomas F. Yeaton 1 
Simeon Keen, f. 53 

Sally Keen 4 8 

Lot Keen 15 

Mary Keen 11 

Josiah Keen 85 

Mary Ellwell 76 

James Hussey, f. 4 3 
Dorcas Hussey 4 5 

Simeon Hussey, bt. 18 
Emily A. Hussey 1 1 
Caroline Hussey 13 

Sarah J. Hussey 11 

Henrietta E. Hussey 8 
Rebecca H. Hussey 4 
Tobias Ricker, 20, f. 61 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



74o 



Kezia Ricker 54 

Algenon Ricker 16 

Cyrus Ricker 11 

Abigail Ricker 86 

2d J. S. Benson, f. 29 

Sarah A. Benson 27 

Arabine F. Benson 3 

Flora S. Benson 1 

Lysander Robinson 37 

Jane W. Robinson 33 

Katy Robinson 10 
CharK-s A. Robinson 5 

Mary E. Robinson 4 

Marinda Robinson 1 

Axel Spaulding-. f. 47 

Clarissa Spaulding 50 

F. A. Spaulding, f. 24 

Amanda Spaulding 20 

Dominicus Record 61 
Prudence S. Record 52 

Susan J. Record 19 

Nath'l Shaw, 30, f. 6:; 

Martha Shaw 64 

N. T. Shaw. f. 27 

Amanda B. Shaw 24 

Obadiah Berry, f. 60 

Abigail Berry 58 

Joanna M. Berry 31 

John A. Berry 20 

Jonah Forbes, f. 37 

Sylphira Forbes 30 

Clinton H. Forbes 11 

Betsy H. Forbes 9 

Henry B. Forbes 5 
Slyie Forbes 7 mos. 

Lucy A. Hall 23 

Edward Shaw. f. 32 

Jerusha Shaw 29 

Joseph F. Shaw 9 

Burton Shaw 7 

Emma Shaw 5 

Milford Shaw 3 
Asa li. Shaw 3 mos. 

Joshua Irish, b. 55 

Joanna Irisli 46 

Samuel F. Irish 19 

Varanes I>. Irish 13 

William H. Irish 12 
2d Chas. D. Irish, f. 27 

Zeruch Irish 24 

George II. Irish 3 

Ann E. Irish 1 

Jotham Shaw. 1'. 48 

Sarepta Shaw 44 

Mary E. Shaw 20 

John A. Shaw 18 

Charlotte F. Shaw 16 

Charles A. Shaw 10 

Jotham ^^■. Shaw 9 



Isaac W. Shaw 5 

Sarepta A. Shaw 4 

Aaron Cox, f. 31 

Elizabeth Cox 21 

Edward Cox 2 

Judith Parsons 88 

Lucy Cox 63 

Judith Cox 42 

Lucy Cox 24 

Peter R. Tileston 34 
Phebe Tileston 37 

Flora J. R. Tileston 3 
Lev^i Gammon, 20, f. 52 
Eliza Gammon 39 

Eliza Ann Gammon 16 
Hiram Gammon 14 

Charles Gammon 12 
Mary J. Gammon 10 
Levi Gammon 9 

Whitney Morton, sh. 30 
Mary Morton 25 

John DeCoster, f. 69 
Louisa Benson 44 

Isabel Benson 6 

Arabella Benson 6 

2d Jas. C. Dow, min. 32 
Hannah G. Dow 25 

Mariah Dow 5 

Sarah E. Dow 4 

James J. Dow 2 

Hannah B. Dow 5 mos. 
Varanes DeCoster 38 
Louisa DeCoster 34 

Francisco DeCoster 11 
Wm. B. DeCoster 9 
Georgianna DeCoster 5 
Virgil P. DeCoster 2 
Virginia DeCoster 2 
Henry DeCoster, t'. 51 
Abigail E. DeCoster 52 
Edmund DeCoster 19 
James H. DeCoster 12 
Mary A. DeCoster 10 
Bethiah E. DeCoster 9 
Joseph F. DeCoster 4 
Wm. Eaton, ped. 4 7 
Esther Eaton 41 

Abby Ann Eaton 13 
Abigail Gammon 67 

Henry Cox, f. 4 4 

Rebecca Cox 4 3 

Margaret Cox 19 

Charles H. Cox 13 

Arza Forbes, f. C8 

Rebecca Forbes 61 

Silas Forbes, sh. 28 
N'athan Forbes, f. 23 
Melvander Forbes 29 
Richard Forbes, f. 30 



Brittannia Forbes 22 

S. O. Record, f. 27 

Sally B. Record 25 

Emily J. Record 4 

Charles C. Record 3 
Abial Drake, 30, f. 48 

Nancy Drake 54 

Melvina N. Drake 16 

Dolly Drake 85 

Martin L. Page 5 
Martin Drake, 30, f. 55 

Celia Drake 55 

Achsah M. Drake 21 

Celia V. Drake 18 

Esther M. Drake 11 

E. C. Record, bt. 36 
Miriam Record 31 
3. Roscoe Record 7 
Mehitable E. Record 3 
Clark Record, bt. 23 
Silas Shaw. bt. 28 
Amanda Shaw 24 
Geo. W. Holmes, 1". 4 
Louisa Holmes 37 
George F. Holmes 15 
N'ancy M. Holmes 13 
James M. Holmes 11 
Kinsman Holmes 8 
Elizabeth E. Holmes 5 
Charles K. Holmes 2 
Wm. Robinson, 24, 51 
Sabrina Robinson 51 
Susan E. Robinson 28 
Wm. F. Robinson 21 
Allen Pompilly, 20, 51 
Eleanor Pompilly 4 5 
Chas. B. Pompilly 21 
.James W. Pompilly 17 

F. B. Pompilly 16 
Judah T. Pompilly 13 
Wm. Chase 38 
Vesta Chase 37 
Persis Chase 13 
Frances Chase 8 
Peter Berry, f. 5 1 
Jane Berry 45 
.John F. Berry 13 
Everson D. Berry 7 
Jacob W. Berry 4 
Lucy Berry 49 
Betsy Whitney SO 
Nathan Morrill, 40, 46 
Miriam Morrill 46 
Horace Morrill 18 
Ellen Morrill 16 
Isaac Morrill 11 
Rasselas Cole, 1". 4 
Jane Cole 34 
Mary Cole 5 



746 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



William Morrill 
Matilda Morrill 
Clarissa Morrill 
Carroll Morrill 
Mary Morrill 
William Morrill 
Walter B. Morrill 
Daniel Chase, f. 
Diadamia Chase 
Cyrus G. Chase 
Elisha Thompson 
2d Zenas Shaw, bt 
Jane Shaw 
Wm. F. Spaulding, f. 28 
Miriam Spaulding- 54 
Charles Reed 
Cynthia Reed, 20 
Amanda Reed 
Kdwin Reed 
Edg-ar Reed 
Mark Reed 
Sophia J. Reed 
Chas. A. Reed 
Mary Reed 
Dexter Record, sh. 29 
Delphina Record IS 
Jonathan Record 
Abigail Record 
Phebe Record 
Margery Leavitt 
Jonathan G. Leavitt 16 
Nehemiah Leavitt 14 
William B. Leavitt 12 
Phebe A. Leavitt 10 
Edmund M. Warren 17 
William D. Warren 16 
Dorcas J. Record 25 
Thos. F. Record, sh. 22 
2d Briggs Record 45 
Phebe S. Record 
Asubah Berry 
Wm. Record, sh. 
Mary J. Record 
Jonas S. Record 



f. 39 
24 
16 
13 
11 

Jr. 9 
1 
65 
55 
31 
12 
30 
24 



100 
84 
64 
41 



40 

22 

25 

28 

8 



R. B. Jennings, den. 39 
Diana Jennings 39 

Helen P. Jennings 12 
Clara L. Jennings 7 
Mary L. Jennings 4 
Jona. Dammon, Jr. 56 
Bethiah B. Dammon 58 
Hannah Dammon 21 
Cinderilla Dammon 11 
Elijah Turner, 30, Town 

Farm 29 

Lucy Ann Turner 21 
Eben. Irish, pau. 87 
Anna Irish, pau. 76 
Polly Webb, pau. 90 



Polly Cox, pau. 
Wm. Brock, pau. 
Sarah Brock, pau. 
Betsy Lapham, pau 
Rania Foster, pau. 
A. Hodgdon, pau. 
Isaac Foster, pau. 
Azel Forbes, pau. 
Ezekiel Forbes, pau 
Olive Austin, pau. 
S. Bosworth, pau. 
Jesse Turner, f. 
Elsie Turner 
Edna Turner 
Arvilla Tobin 
Ifolan Foster, f. 
Polly Foster 
LaFayette Foster 
Virgil D. Foster 
Mary Ann Foster 
Rolan A. Foster 
Phebe Foster 
Hezediah Foster 
Henry Hodgdon, sh. 
Joel Foster, sh. 
Mercy Foster 
Abijah Foster 
Hezediah Foster 
Clark W. Foster 
John Brown, Jr. 
I'rsula Brown 
Alonzo Brown 
Fernando Brown 
Henry Brown 
Henrietta Brown 
Rhoda Brown 
James Brown 
Polly Brown 
Morris Brown, 1. 
Fanny Brown 
Elvira Brown 
Lucy E. Brown 
Alonzo Crockett, 1. 
Betsy Crockett 
Alonzo Crockett 3 m 
Rodney Chaffln, 30. 
Mary Chaflin 
Mary A. Chaflin 
Sarah J. Chaflin 
Julia J. Chaffln 
Emily T. Chaflin 
Agnes W. Chafhn 
Jas. Jewett, 25, f. 
Vesta Jewett 
Ralph C. Jewett, tr. 
James F. Jewett 
Betsy Bonney 
John Loring, tr. 
Jennette Loring 



74 
81 
SO 
58 
70 
62 
60 
67 
40 
40 
43 
36 
31 
61 
15 
45 
43 
17 
14 
12 

8 
S3 
59 
42 
53 
55 
19 
15 
13 
42 
34 
12 

9 



24 
18 

OS. 

41 
4 
17 
13 
12 
6 
4 
60 
53 
23 
12 
20 
80 
76 



Lucius Loring 52 

Sally Loring 48 

Jennette Loring 24 

Carroll Loring, tr. 17 
Hiram Jones, sh. 49 
Clarissa Jones 47 

2d Ozen Spauldinj 
Martha Spaulding 
Jos. W. Willis, har 
Lydia Willis 
Ellen I. Willis 
Lupira Willis 
2d A. A. Manning 
Eliza A. Manning- 
Nina E. Manning 
John Morril, bl. 
Esther E. Morrill 
Chas. W. Morrill 
Hanson Brown, 1. 
Sarah Brown 
tJenry Brown 
George Brown 
Josiah Parris, 30, 
Sarah Parris 
Val. Ripley, bl. 
Lavina Ripley 
Eliphaz Ripley 
Persis Ripley 
Clinton Ripley 
Hannah Ripley 
Lavina Ripley 
Ella Ripley 
Addison Ripley 
Adrian Ripley 
Geo. Thomes, clo. 
Rebecca Thomes 
Moses Thomes, bt 
Sophronia Thomes 
.lenette Thomes 
Jas. Murdock, ta. 
Jennette Murdock 
Amanda F. Murdock 7 
James H. ]Murdock 3 
Geo. W. Murdock 
Loyd Buck. sh. 
Orville Buck, sh. 
Thos. Bridgham, tr 
T. Jeff. Bridgham 
Ambrose Buck, s 
Mary G. Buck 
Mary F. Buck 
Amanda J. Buck 
Standish Buck 2 

Caroline Buck 5 mos. 
Henry Walker, ost.. 20 
Eph. Atwood. 45. tr. 41 
Asa Atwood, cl 16 

Emily Atwood 13 

Wm. Wallace Atwood 8 



28 
22 
33 
28 

7 

4 

29 
29 

5 
50 
42 
13 
40 
28 
10 

7 

89 
65 
41 
38 
16 
15 
13 
11 



1 

24 

22 

46 

17 

k. 28 

29 

7 

5 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



N. O. Doug'lass 35 

Jane Douglass 35 

Cephas H. Douglass 10 
Greenleaf Bray 34 

Eliza Bray 33 

Harriet E. Bray 12 

J. H. Davis, mil. 32 
Achsa Davis 26 

2d Ezra Bisbee, mil. 29 
Margaret J. Bisbee 23 
Lewis O'Brioii. ta. 21 
Barnum Coburn IT 

Jos. Blake, k. m. 18 
3d Allen Tuttle, cab. 24 
Almeda Tuttle 23 

Artemas F. Cole. tr. 50 
Hepsibath Cole 44 

Josephine Cole 14 

Wm. H. Atwood, tr. 23 
Helen M. Atwood 23 
Ruth H. Atwood 52 

Chas. B. Atwood, tr. 25 
Emily D. Atwood 23 
Chas. Atwood 8 rnos. 
Sidney Spaulding, f. 4 3 
Eliza Spaulding 38 

Benj. Spaulding 14 

Cyrus C. Spaulding 12 
William Spaulding 9 
Flora A. Spaulding 4 
2d Chas. Hall, k. .m 24 
Rosetta Hall 21 

Adoniram Chaffin 30 
Lydia Jane ChafHn 27 
Nancy ChafTin 7 

Abby A. Chaffln 4 

John Chaffln 74 

N'ancy Chaffln 70 

Samuel Thomes, tr. 30 
lirittannia Thomes 26 
Gardner Thomes 2 

Benj. Spaulding, 25, 81 
Dastine Spaulding 31 
Clarinda Spaulding 28 
John Taylor, 40, 43 

Olive H. Taylor 36 
Henry L. Taylor 15 

Howard Taylor 11 

Mary F. Taylor 5 

Jas. Morrill, f. 81 

Anna Morrill 72 

Michael H. Hall, tr. 25 
Albion Child, tr. 23 

John Stanworth 30 

Geo. Fickett, f. 30 

Albert A. Spaulding 35 
Josiah Battles, s. d. 27 
Euton Farrar, s. d 25 
Carlton Gardner 23 



S. C. Andrews 25 

Lewis Chase, eggs 20 
Nelson Daggett, sh. 38 
Clarissa Churchill 26 
Eliza Ann Irish 26 

Lupira Cole 56 

Aurelius Cole, cab. 23 
Rotheus M. Cole 19 

Melissa S. Cole 16 

Mary L. Cole 12 

IMariah L. Marble 25 
Sarah E. Marble 5 

Franklin N. Marble 3 
A. G. Cole, 50, cl. 38 
Eliza B. Cole 36 

Julia A. Cole 9 

William A. Cole 7 

Sarah A. Cole 5 

Cyrus W. Cole 2 

F. A. Warren, h. m. 31 
Sylvira Warren 34 

Walter F. Warren 5 
Alphonso F. Warren 3 
Enoch P. Bartlett 24 
Isaac Morton 19 

Zadoc Long, 25, f. 49 
Julia Temple Long 43 
Persis S. Long 22 

Zadoc Long, Jr. cl. 16 
John D. Long 11 

2d A. Stevens, car. 27 
Mary Stevens 25 

Jonathan Stevens 19 
L. Atwood, 24, tr. 37 
Lucy Atwood 37 

Josephine Atwood 13 
Eunice Ann Atwood 11 
Isaac H. McDonald 26 
Clarinda McDonald 25 
Clarence McDonald 2 
Elsada McDonald 1 

Sarah H. Morton 52 

Susannah Morton 16 
James McDonald 18 
C. C. Harlow, b. m., 38 
Miriam Harlow 37 

C. C. Harlow, Jr. 17 
Miriam M. Harlow 15 
Americas D. Harlow 13 
Erccland F. Harlow 11 
Noah 1'. Harlow 1 

Aaron Parsons 62 

lOunicc Parsons 56 

Maria Parsons 21 

Frances E. Parsons 11 
Caleb Cushman, Jr. 40 
Eveline Cushman 38 
Lucy Ann Cushman 13 
Charles Cushman 10 



Eveline Cushman 10 
Rosetta Cushman 6 
Wm. L. Cole, eng. 30 
Cordelia Cole 28 

Maria C. Cole 7 

Bertrand Cole 5 

Alice I. Cole 3 

Florian Cole 9 mos. 
Margaret Allen 16 

Meek Farrar, f. 70, 13 
Arminta Farrar 40 

Lucius L. Farrar 19 
America A. Farrar 17 
Arminta M. Farrar 13 
Larkin W. Farrar 2 
Adoniram Mason. 1. 18 
Morris Brown. 1. 25 

John O. Bean 21 

Abigail C. Bean 55 

2d Simon P. Bean 17 
William Andrews 30 
Martha D. Andrews 24 
John O. Andrews 3 
Infant 10 mos. 

George Bennett 42 

Emma L. Bennett 5 
George O. Bennett 3 
Sylvia F. Cole 36 

Lebbeus T. Allen ,p. 30 
Paulina E. Allen 26 
Mary E. Allen 5 

Chas. A. Allen, p. 21 
Robert Vose, car. 24 
Relief Vose 24 

Henry F. Vose 3 

Seth B. Horton, 20, sea 

capt. 39 

Jane Horton 30 

Ariel W. Horton 5 

Harriet Horton 3 

Infant 3 mos. 

Amos Tucker, car. 52 
Lucretia Tucker 4 6 
Orville P. Tucker 14 
Carmelia A. Tucker 13 
2d S. J. Murdock 23 
Phcbe J. Murdock 20 
3d Ira Ames, leather 26 
Lucretia Ann Ames 24 
Amory Allen, tr. 38 

Zilpha Allen- 31 

William W. Allen 9 

Joanna B. Allen 5 

Walter F. Allen 1 

John Hogan, 1, 30 

Naomi Hogan 27 

Margaret Hogan 5 

Mary Ann Hogan 3 

Joanna Hogan 1 mos. 



T JO 

I to 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIRLD 



^Vm. BridRham, 90, 69 
Hannah Bridgham 70 
Aurelia Bridgrham 36 
Mary Ann Bridghani 24 
2d O. BridKham. 39 

Mary H. Bridgham 21 
George H. Bridgham 1 
Caroline Crookcr 43 
Kmily S. Crooker 17 
Albion P. Bonney, f. 24 
Mary Ann Bonney 23 
Infant 3 mos. 

2d Jas. Bonney. 35. 50 
Bethania Bonney 48 
Andrew J. Bonney 16 
Sally Bonney 75 

Sarah E. Bonney 14 
John Doe. 1. 25 

Mary Doe 25 

John Doe, Jr. 3 

ilary Doe 2 

Infant 3 mos. 

W. P. Bridgham 33 

Delphina Bridgham 23 
Ella H. Bridgham 3 
Infant 6 mos. 

2d Judith Hay ford 51 



Susan Hayford 20 

Rosina Hayford 12 

Cordelia Cushman 30 

Levi Cushman 2 

I\Iilton Farrar, cab. 21 

Danville Bisbee 30 

Martha Ann Bisbee 22 

Van Buren Ellis 19 

David W. Swett, 40, 52 

Almira Swett 4 9 

Plorinda H. Swett 17 

2dWm. Allen, bl. 27 

Almira Allen 20 

Frederick Foster 37 

Loretta Foster 30 

Frederick F. Foster 6 

P'loretta Foster 2 

Josiah W. Whitten 28 

L,ydia Whitten 25 

S. Bridgham 42 

Liucretia Bridgham 40 

Sarah L. Bridgham 16 

Thos. S. Bridgham 12 

Chas. B. Bridgham 9 

Wm. H. Bridgham 3 

Clara A. Bridgham 20 



2d Hiram Tuttle 21 

Cornelia Tuttle 19 
Mary B. Tuttle 6 mos. 

C. D. Mayhew 23 

2d Sophira Mayhew 20 

Howard Waldron 23 

Caroline Waldron 21 

Hannah Tuttle 55 

Jos. C. Tuttle, cab. 33 

Wm. Tuttle, sh. 17 

Helen M. Tuttle 10 

Clinton Gilbert 7 

2d Lincoln Allen 19 

Lyman Stratton 25 

Amanda Stratton 22 
Infant 8 mos. 

Wm. Creasy, car. 29 

Mary Creasy 24 

Kmily M. Creasy 5 

John Creasy, Jr. 21 

C. H. Coolidge 50 

Mary Coolidge 39 
Sabine Coolidge, cl. 19 

Chas. D. Bradbury 21 

Wm. Daggett, sh. 30 

Julius M. Gardner — 



Note: There were 275 dwelling houses and 321 families; "2d," pre- 
ceding names indicates the second family in same house ; letters, occupa- 
tion, etc., as f. for farmer; g. for gunsmith; ta., tailor; tr., trader; bl., 
blacksmith; min., minister; pa., pauper; cab., cabinet maker; pow., 
powder maker; sh., shoemaker; bt., boot maker; c. d., cattle dealer; St., 
student; car., carpenter; m., mason; mil.,- miller; p., painter; k. m., keg 
maker; b. m., brick maker; h. d., hardware dealer, etc. The figures fol- 
lowing names indicate the number of hundred dollars the person esti- 
mated the value of his real estate at, none given here less than $2,000. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



749 



county roads. 
Petition for First County Road. 

To THE Honorable Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the County 
of Cumberland, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 
The Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of two towns, one called 
Bucktown, or Xo. 5, the other called Butterfield, or No. 6, in the County 
of Cumberland. 

Your Petitioners humbly sheweth. That the Committee appointed by 
the Hon. Gen. Court for selling unappropriated lands in the County of 
Cumberland, have sold the above said two towns and there being be- 
tween seventy and eighty families settled in said townships ; That they 
labor under great inconveniences for want of an open and established 
Road from Bucktown, as far as the Great Bridge on the Little Amaris- 
coggin River in Bakerstown. The Road that is used now is frequently 
filled up by persons who wish it to be differently laid out. Some say 
it to be in one place and some in another. 

Your Petitioners therefore Humbly Pray, that your Honors would be 
pleased to send a Committee (or appoint some other way) so there may 
be an open and established Road from Bucktown to the Great Bridge 
abovesaid, that they may pass and Repass, without so many fences, and 
other incumbrances, and as in duty bound, will ever Pray. 
May 16, 1786. 

Abijah Buck 
.Jonathan Tyler 
Xathaniel Buck 
Benjamin Spaulding 
.Jonathan Record 
I.saac Foster 
.Jonas Cotaurn 
William Irish 
John Brown 
John Buck 
David Record 
Thomas Coburn 
Edmund Chandler 
Caleb Young 
Joseph Roberts 
Amos Brown 
Bani Teague 
David Warren 
Joseph Chase 
Nathaniel Chase 
Enoch Hall 
Jonathan Philbrick 
James Thurlo 
Jonah Fobes 
Dominicus Record 
.John Warren 

The names of the Buckfield settlers who signed this petition art in 
the first column. 



.Joseph Robinson 
Increase Robinson 
Blisha Bisbee 
Noah Bosworth 
John Bonney 
Wm. Tucker 
Meshack Keen 
James Keen 
John Keen 
Oliver Cummings 
Moses Buck 
Simeon Barrett 
John Briggs 
Hezekiah Stetson 
Isaac Bonney 
Asa Robinson 
Benjamin Heald 
Charles Bisbee 
Charles Foard 
Moses Harris 
John Crockett 
Daniel Oldham 



750 HISTORY OF BUCKFIKLD 



What action was taken on this particnhir petition we do not know 
but it is said that the first county road laid out through the township 
was buiU and extended to New Penacook now Rum ford in or before 
1788. 

The proprietors' records show that a county road had been laid out 
before April i, 1789. It entered the plantation in the southeast section 
from Hebron and passed through what was later called the Lowell Cor- 
ner and over North Hill to the Mills, and from there into Sumner past 
the Col. James Bonney place. In 1805 after the county of Oxford was 
organized, William Lowell and others petitioned for the location of a 
higliway from his "stOre in Buckfield (at the Lowell Corner) over the 
bridge on the Twenty Mile River passing by the place of Rev. Nathaniel 
Chase to Federal Corner and through Hartford, on the east side of the 
Whitney Pond to Jay Point" now Canton Point. 

The prayer of the petitioners was granted and the road was located 
and built. The "Great County Road" was laid out in 1819. It e.K- 
tended from the New Hampshire line, between Fryeburg and Conway lo 
Aug-usta. In Buckfield the following owners of land, localities and places 
are mentioned in the report of the conmiittee which laid out the road: 
Josiah Bailey, Ephraim Harlow, Capt. Nathaniel Harlow, Noah Hall, 
W'aterman's Bridge, Job Prince, Mayhews', Buck's Bridge, Squire Buck's, 
The Liberty Pole, Spaulding's, Village Bridge, Corner Foster's House, 
(tavern), Dominicus Record's Heirs, Josiah Parris, John Loring, Benja- 
min Milliken, Henry Farwcll, Hall's Bridge, Guide Board, Turner Lower 
Road, past Drake's to sclioolhouse and county road, past Decoster's to 
Lincoln's, Nathan Hall, Herman Wood to Hartford line. From Hall's 
Bridge, the road was afterward changed to pass by Enoch Hall's and 
through Turner by a different location. In 1833, T. Waterman and 
others sought to have the road changed to avoid the Hall Hill, and also 
to have an alteration made in Turner. They set forth in tlieir petition, 
that 

"In tlie lirst place Hall's Hill is well known to all, who have ever 
passed it. as a long, tiresome, and tedious hill, and not unfrequently 
somewhat hazardous, owing to its roughness and the impracticability of 
keeping it in repair. »•***« 

Xow as a remedy for this mischief, we would request, that an altt r- 
atiun bt> made, commencing at or near the easterly end of Hall's Hridge. 
and from thence running in a direct line, so as to come out, at some place 
on the present road between the dwelling house of Jonas Spaulding and 
the base of said hill." 

The hearing was had July ist at Capt. Daniel Chase's and Enoch Hall 
attended as agent of the town to oppose the alteration. Apparently he 
was much more interested personally than as a town official. 

The alteration asked for was not granted, but the change desired in 
Turner near Isaac Chase's was made. In 1837 (Enoch Hall being dead) 
Isaac Chase and others petitioned to have the change made "in order to 
avoid loaded teams having to pass over Hall's Hill." The hearing was 
at "Bridgham's Tavern" on the loth of October. The prayer of the 



1 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 751 

petitioners was granted and the change made. Col. Aaron Parsons, 
Samuel B. Perry, Ximenes Philbrick, Hiram Hall and Simon Record were 
awarded damages. 

In 1848, on petition of James Hersey, 3d, and 342 others, a county road 
was laid from "near Thomas S. Bridgham's Tavern House," over sub- 
stantially what is now the road bed of the Rum ford Falls Railroad, to 
"the road leading by the house of Charles Bearce" in Hebron. The 
Buckfield Branch Railroad havino- shortly after been located and built, 
this road was discontinued. 

As showing the land owners in Buckfield, over which the road was 
located, we give the name of those who w ere awarded land damages : 

Rodney Chaffin Town of Buckfield 

Caleb Cushman Charles Reed 

Levi Turner Lebbeus Robbins 

JMoses Packard Hiram Fogg 
Joshua Whitman 

At some period, we think, the road leading from the village through the 
Foster and Lothrop neighl>orhoods on the westerly side of South Pond in 
Buckfield, and the DeCoster neighborhood ("Sodom") in Hebron, to 
West Minot village, must have been laid out as a county road. It has 
been quite a thoroughfare from very early times. 

In 1849 on petition of Daniel Parsons and others, a way was located 
"from Sumner down the \'alley of the East Branch to a point near N. O. 
Douglass' store in Buckfield Village." James Bonney, Nathaniel Shaw, 
Heirs of William Cole and Dominicus Record were awarded damages. 
On petition of E. G. Harlow and others in 1850, an alteration in the 
county road from Buckfield village to North Turner, was made. The 
following Buckfield parties were awarded damages : 

America Farrar Addison G. Cole 

Martin Drake Abial Drake 

William Irish Stephen O. Record 

John DeCoster Cyrus Irish 
Varanes DeCoster 

In 185 1 on petition of Charles B. Atwood and others, a way was lo- 
cated from "near G. B. Horton's house on the road leading to Hall's 
Bridge and running nearly south to the county road leading to West 
Minot." It was located over lands of S. G. Horton and James Jewett. 

The same year an alteration was made in the county road "leading 
from Sumner Corner to liuckfield village around and easterly of Casta- 
way Hill, so called in Buckfield." Sydenham Bridgham, D. VV. Swett 
and Frederick Foster were awarded land damages. 

On petition of Amos Winslow and others in 1851, a new county road 
from Buckfield village to South Paris was located. That part from the 
road leading by Amos Winslow's to the road passing by the dwelling 
houses of the Chases, was discontinued. But James N. Waldron and 
104 others in 1857 petitioned to have a location made from the 
Taylor Corner in Buckfield to the Paris Hill road nmning past the 



yrvi HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 

Sturtevant place in Paris, which was granted. In 1875 on petition of 
Asa Atwood and otliers, the South Paris road was graded, near tlie Aus- 
tin Royal place, the Leonard schoolhouse, the Maxim Hill and other local- 
ities. On petition of the selectmen, in 1892, a change was made in the 
way leading from "Shaw's Bridge in Buckfield past East Branch Farm 
to Hartford." George D. Bisbee was awarded damages. At diflferent 
periods, several small changes have been made, in those ways, which pass 
through a very small portion of the town. 



li 







INDEX 






Page 


Allen, Thomas, sk. 




24 Be 


rec. set. 




29 


men. 




107 


mov. H. 




119 


dea. 




368 Bii 


Amory H., 


390, 


522 


Chas. A., 




522 


Edmund, 




521 



Andrews, Mark, sk. 94 

men. 96, 118, 133, 514 

Sam'l. sk. 182 

elec. rep. 116 

men. 94, 103, 117, 133 

Sullivan C, sk. 335 

men. 330, 430, 458 

Brittania C, 167 

Elder Otis, 171 

Ardent Spirts not to be used 

for road taxes, 128, 130 

why not sold, 471 

destroyed, 501 

"Aroostook War," 481, 482 

Athearn, Rev. W. D., 150 

Atwood, Nathan, 99, 159, 370. 486 

sk. 528 

Ephraim, sk. 182 

men. 99, 372, 419 

Dea. Wm. H., 149, 150, 408 

sk. 185 

Kimball C, sk. 186 

Geo. M., sk. 190 

Chas. B., sk. 193 

Fred H., sk. 194 

Capt. Sam'l, sk. 528 

Lorenzo, 273, 459 

Bancroft, Col. Eben'r, 58 

Baptist Ch. burnt, 141 

Barrett, Gilbert, 457 

Bates, Rev. Geo., 165 

Battle. (Inds.) Gor. bl. ho. 81 

(Inds.) Wind. bl. ho. 82 

Shadagee Woods, 90, 125 

^ Battles, Geo., 420, 423 

Beadle, Chas. M., 147, 408 

Bennett, Wm. B., sk. 332 

Geo., sk. 524 

Dr. Annette, sk., 525 

Benson, Rev. S. F., 147 

Berry, Dea. Wm., 36, 73, 125, 134 

sk. 526 

Obadiah, sk. 527 

Chas. H., sk. 527, (406) 

Fred, 397 



Page 

Bessey, Capt. Alden, sk. 527 

Alvin S., sk. 528 

Norman B., sk. 529 

Everett M., sk. 529 

Bicknell, Simeon, 117 

John, 529 

James F., 530 

Everett F., 530 

Grace, 530 

Wm., 215, 458 

Bisbee, Geo. D., sk. 339 

men. 431, etc. 

Stanley, sk. 538 

Spaulding, sk. 540 

Elisha, sk. 537 

Geo. W.. sk. 538 

Capt. Lewis, 378, 384 

Blake, Wm. H., 409 

Blanchard, Dr. W. I., sk. 366 

Bonney, A. P., sk. 512, (423) 

Ichabod, 145-501 

Col. Jas., sk. 541, (373, 419) 

Dr. P. J., sk . 464 

Bosworth, Stephen, 97 

Bowker, Capt. James, 544 

Bowman, Thos. W., 426 

Bradbury, Dr. C. D., sk. 359 

Bragdon, John J., 416 

Bridgham, Dr. Wm., sk. 353 

men. 95, 104, 167, 369, 

385, 472, 476, 517 

Dr. Wm. P., sk. 358 

Dr. Chas. B., sk. 360 

Capt. T. S., sk. 345, (407) 

Thos. J., sk. 339 

Sydenham, 381, 545 

Wm. H., 405 

Hotel, 420 

Geo. H., 463 

Brock, Wm., 78, 499 

John, 546 

Brown, John, 25, 116 

Amos, 40 

^Jzra, sk. 47 

Jzra, sen., k'd by Inds. 82 

Sam'l F., sk. 329 

men. 98, 368, 369, 383 

est. of, 504 

James 409 

Browne, Col. J. W., sk. 335, (460) 

O'Neil. 335 

Bryant, Capt. John E., 405, 42G 



o4 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



Buck. Abijah. sk. 23 

men. 58, 61, 64, 75, 103, 

105, 108, 133. 

diary, 509 

death, 371 

Nathaniel, sk. 24, (33) 

Mrs. Mollie, dea. 370 

John, sk. 33. (3(;9) 

John ("Hone.st"). 78 

Moses, 33, 83 

Capt. Jona., 370 

Orlando J., sk. 555 

Dr. C. L.. sk. 557 

Bucklield, eff. ch. name. 128, 120 

in 1793, 269 

Vill. dif. names of. 123 

business men ('47) 494, 

(•50) 498. 

industries, ('76) 453 

"Cradle of Liberty." 164, 404 

Band. 419 

lUimpus, H. C, LI..D.. .sk. 194 

T.urying Gds. fenced etc.. 119, 508 

Sextons for, 126, 372. 373 

r.utter/ield, Sam'l. 58, 59 

Caldwell. Dr. J. C. sk. 363 

Campbell. Dr. J. H., sk. 356 

\Vm.. itti. 99 

Carleton, Rev. C. H.. sk. 14 7 

Carsley. John, 97. 120 

Chandler, Edmund, sk. 34. (94) 

Chase. Rev. Xath'l. sk. 40. 136 

men. 117. IIS. 119. 380, 

4 4 6. 4 96. 

death 4 20 

Eleazer, sk. 560 (40, 82) 

Joseph, 4 

Capt. Daniel, 89, 125, 372, 

376, 379, 420. 

Tluimas, sk. 197 

men. 102, 166, 4 20. 426, 

427, 486. 

Reunion, 4 27 

Roscoe Ci., sk. 197 

Charles, sk. 198, (410) 

Geo., sk. 202 

H. A., sk. 202 

Wm. D., sk. 203 

Homer N., sk. 203 

William, sk. 562 

Chesley, Sam'l, 563 

James M., 406 

Moses, 564 

ChiUls. John Lewis, sk. 203 

:Mrs. Carrie (i.. sk. 207 

Floral I'ark. 204 

Steplien. 179. 456 

J)r. Dairi. 350, 510 



Churchill, Jabez, 

Mrs. Mariah, 

Bela, 

Matthew, 

Clay, John, 

Clifford, Rev. N. C. 



378 
423 
564 
565 
132 
179 



Clothing: Works, built, 96 

Co. C. 23d Me. Regt. Reu. 4 63 

Coburn, Thomas, sk. 35, (66) 

Jonas, sk., 38 

Cortin, Rev. Paul, sk. 132 

Cole, Alfred, sk. 208, (166, 431) 

poems, 293, 294 

Dr. Arthur E., sk. 567 

Alfred T., sk. 567 

Lemuel, Jr., sk. 567 (408, 

457). 

Artemas, sk. 506, (373) 

William, 99, 487 

Addison G., 461. 483 

Comet, app. of. noted. 506 

Comstock, Dr. W. H., sk. 357 

Coolidge, Dr. C. H., sk. 357 

Dr. V. P.. 4 95 

Creasy, Wm., suit of. 386 

Crocker, Enoch, 98 

Crockett, Dan'l. 40 

Crooker, Lemuel, sk. 38, (51, 103, 

107). 

Lemuel. Jr.. sk. ini 

James O., sk. 69 I 

Crosby, Dr. Atwood, sk. 361 

Crow, "tax," 119, 120. 124 

Cummings, Dea. W., sk. 211 

Prentiss, sk. 212 

■ Mr.s. Mary H., sk. (t po.. 294 

Cushman. Jabez, 62, 67 

Caleb, 393 

Andrew, 505 

Cyclones noted, 459. 483 

Daggrett, Don. D., 97 

Daicy, C. M., 431 

Damon. Jonathan. 78 

Jonathan. 2d, k'd at I'etei-s- 

burg, 410 

Davis, Gershom, 11 

Joshua, 87, 1(I4 

Dean, J. Robinson, 573 

DeCoster, Varanes, sk. 577, (166, 

424, 458). 

Virgil P., sk. 578 (177, 463). 

James H., sk. 575 

Dr. John F.. sk. 366 (463) 

Wm. B., 410 

Henry, 375 

Deeds (settlers) obtained, 63 

Doble, Wm., 37 

Houghty, Robt. H.. 415 

Dow, lOUler Chas. 171 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



755 



357 
249 
492 
346 
171 
120 
146 
44, 68 
229, 399 



637 

424 
74 
74 

385, 389, 426, 497 

385, 386 

385 

426. 600 

582 



Drake, Dr. John S., sk. 

Drew, Jesse, 

Droughts, severe. 471, 484, 48 

Dyer, Fred R.. sk. 

Eaton, Elder E. G.. sk. 

Eclipse sun, 

Elder, Rev. J. F.. 

Elliott, Andrew, 

Emery, Moses, 

Ellen Morrill, s 
Enrollment, '62, 
Farrar, David, sk. 

Judith, story of. 

Meek., 

Aratus, 

Ethic, 

Merritt. 

Jason, sk. 

Webster, k'd at B. Run 411 

3d Dea. David, 460 

Farwell, Gen. Henry, sk. 327, (97, 

98, 104, 229. 433). 
Federal Corner named. 104 

Meeting House built, 169 
Fires (Great of 1816). 126 

Bridgr. Hotel burnt, 420, 502 

Bucktteld Ho. burnt, 458 

Baptist ch. and sch 
burnt. 
First sch. ho. built, 

Sch. Com 

Reg-, muster, 

Co. road laid out 

Appro, for poor 

Guide Posts erected, 

Church bell rung, 
Forbes, Jonah, sk. 

Rev. Eleanor B., sk.' 

Clinton, 
Foster, Isaac, sk. 35 

Joel, sk. 

men. 76, 95, 108, 118, 517 

Phebe Buck, 30, 31, 76 

death, 425 

Rev. Frederick, sk. 168 

Clarence E., sk. 587 

Freeman, Sam'l, 28 

Freshets, 471, 481, 492, 512 

Fruitful Seasons, 491, 493 

not, 483 

Frink, Dr. Sam'l, sk. 350 (95, 116) 
Frye, Dr. Sam'l, suit, 355 

Funded debt, 454 

Gammon, Nathaniel, sk. 36 

death, 371 

Jonathan, 30 

James B., 30 

Margaret, 30 



ho. 

141 

103 

103, 104 

lis 

749 
119 
115 
146, 503 
49 
215 
411 
(94) 
586 



295 



378, 



420, 421, 
4 31, 



578 ( 



t. 



David, 

Levi, 
Gardner, Columbia, sk. 
poems, 88 

death, 

Gertrude, .'ik. 

Luther, sk. 

Jonathan, sk., 

Ira, 

Carlton, sk. 

men. 

Oscar F.. 
Grant, Amorena Roberts, sk. 
Graves, Civ. War Solds., dec. 
Green, David, k. at Fair Oaks, 
Greene, Clara M., sk. & poem, 
Guide Boards erected. 
Gunpowder factory built. 
Hall, Enoch, sk. 

men. 121, 122, 128, 
death, 

Noah, story of. 

Dr. O. R., sk. 

Elder Joseph, 
Harlow, William, sk.. 

Elder Ephraim 

Squire Nath'l, 77, 141, 

Dana B., sk. & poem, 
Hartford, Part Gore an. to B., 
Hanson, M. A. Co., 
Hathaway, Ephraim, 84, 92, 

121. 
Hayes. Rev. Rob't, 

"Father," 
Heald, Dr. H. M., sk. 

Benj., sk. 

Col. W^ashington, 601 ( 
Hersey, Rev. Levi, sk. 

Oscar H., sk 
Hines, Hiram, 
Hodgdon, Jeremiah, 

Jeremiah, Jr. 
Holbrook, Abbie Chase, 

poems, 
Horton, Capt. Seth, 
Howard, Daniel, sk. 
Howe, Nath'l, sk. 
Hussey, John, k'd War 1812, 
Hutchinson, Henry H., 368, 
372. 

Henry H., Jr., 124, 157, 
419, 426, 457. 

Elder Dan'l, 45, 

Stephen D., 374, 379, 423 

Rev. Sam'l, 165, 

Timothy, 92, 101, 

Mrs. Nizaula, 

J. Preston, sk. 
IngersoU, Capt. Nath'l, 



345 ( 
390, 



sk. 
199, 
193, 
327 



454 

454 
216 
296 
422 
223 

78 
590 
516 
595 
462 
453 
673 
456 
414 
297 
378 
377 

44 
369 
373 
508) 
362 
169 

77 
139 
598 
298 
422 
431 
107, 

171 

384 

367 

600 

420) 

172 

458) 

458 

81. 

81 

& 

294 

495 

(97) 

328 

90 

370, 

390, 

104 
, 462 
170 
602 
429 
223 
28 



7ot) 



HISTORY OF BUCKFTELD 



Irish, John, sk. 47 

Mrs. Sarah. 80, 121. 122 

John, Jr., 37 

Joseph, sk., 48 

Eld. Wm., sk. 41, (101, 134) 

death, 129 

Thomas, Jr.. 102, 380, 606 

Joshua, 381 

Henry D., sk. 609, (249) 

John N., sk. & poem, 300 

Dr. John C. sk. 364 

Wm. H., 410 

Sylvanus, 130 

Jenkins, Sergt. Sam'I, 87, 611 

Sam'l, 386 

Jennings. R. B., 393 

Jewett, Capt. James, .sk. 225, (376) 

James F., 226 

Ralph C, 226 

Jordan, John, 61 

James, 84, 612 

Elijah, 84, 87, 120 

Elder Z., 170 

Capt. Miltemore, 415 

Lane, Eben'r, 62, 67 

Latham, Arthur B., sk. 616 

Chas. D. sk., 617 

Lawrence, Rev. B. F., 149 

Leathers, Enoch, 68 

Leonard, Nath'l, 102, 378 

Jacob, 33, 102 

Susan, 3, 43. 102 

Lewis, Asa, 62, 67 

Liberty Pole, 370 

Linsley, Rev. H., 147 

Long, John D., sk. 235 

poems, 301, 302, 303 

elec. Speaker Mass Ho. 

453. 

elec. Gov. of Mass. 455 

elec. to Congress, 456 

Sec. of the Navy, 462 

Zadoc. sk. 227 

poems, 394, 395 

men. 101, 129, 375 

journal, 469 

death, 432 

Washington, sk. 249 (379) 

Thomas, 101. 228 

Thomas, Jr., 619 

Zadoc, Jr., sk. 251 

Henry C, 393, 412 

Hotel, 230 

Loring. John, sk. 252 (96, 101, 

498). 

death. 417 

Lucius, sk. 256 (101, 458) 

reminiscences. 515 

C. Carroll, sk. 257, (429) 

poem, 306 



Lothrop, Joseph, 52, 84, 120 

Lowe, Ozias M., 412 

Lowell. Thomas, sk. 37, (74) 

Stephen, sk. 622, (38) 

William, sk. 38 (51, 514, 

623.) 

Mark, 38, 623 

Manchester, Stephen, 82 

Marston, Wm. W., 412 

Geo. D., 412 

Mason, A. F., sk. 258 

Mrs. Emma A., rec. of 

deaths 723 

Naphtali, 258 

Lewis, 178 

Rev. C. C. 178 

Maxim, Martha, sk. 314 

poems, 9, 316 

Mary, sk. & poems, 314, 315 

Rose, sk. & poems, 312, 313 

Wm. Wallace, sk. & poems, J 

307, 308. 

Henry H., sk. 624 

Olban A., sk. 625 

Franklin, sk. 625 

Capt. Benj., 624 

McDonald, Isaac, 393, 405 

James, 393, 461 

McGloire, G., 415 

Merrill, A. Judson, sk. 630 

Capt. Frank, sk. 630 

Col. Moses, 62, 67 

Mitchell, Mrs. Eliza J., ISO 

Moore, Nahum, sk. 258, (406, 424) 

Morrill, Nathan, 637, (430, 453, 

457.) 

Carroll, 413 

Nathan E., 637 

James, 508 

Murdock, Dea. Edson, 462 

James, 386, 423 

Nezinscot, origin of name, 11 

Old Home Week, 464 

Packard, Dan'l, 46, 85 

Pen. St., 87 

sk. and death, 374 

Mrs. Betty, 51, 374 

Stephen, Jr., sk. 642 

Stephen G., 646 

Dr. F. H., 649 

J. Penley, 645 

Dea. Job, 54, 136, 381 

Gen. E., 97, 651 

Joseph. 90 

John. 90 

Benj.. 90 

Parris. Capt. Joslah, sk. 267 

men. 87, 88, 96, 100, 119, 

122, 380, 394, 446. 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD 



757 



Virgil D., sk. 330 

men. 80. 101. 153. 231, 

370, 372, 373. 375. 377, 

380. 384, 445, 496. 

Miss Delphina K., 101, 267 

Edward L.. sk. 268 

Edward L.. Jr. sk., 269 

Percival J., sk. 654 

Judge Sam'l, 379 

Gov. Albion K., 379 

Parsons, Col. Aaron, sk. 655 

men. 112, 167, 368, 369, 

386, 387. 

Dr. C. A., sk. 360 

Henry 438, 656 

Merritt, 656 

Paupers, pd. sh. sur. rev.. 377 

Pearl. Rev. Cyril, 400. 482 

Perry. Barnabas, 98 

Phelps, Stephen, 97, 98, 128. 267 

Rear Adm'l T. S., sk. 267 

R. A. T. S., Jr. 268 

Philbrick, Jonathan, 35, 108 

Capt. Enoch, 92, 119, 470 

Ximenes, 380, 393. 423. 658 

Phinney. Elder Clement, 172 

Pidgin. Rev. Wm., 129, 159, 160, 

161, 398. 

Poland, Ind. chief k'd. 82 

Potter, Elder James, 132 

Powder Ho., built, 127 

Pratt. Thad.. 85 

Isabel Downie. 572 

Pray, Rev. E. W.. 146 

Prince, Dea. Job, sk. 268 

men. 78, 135, 139, 431 

Capt. Noah, sk. 270 

men. 371, 375, 377. 381. 

419. 

Capt. Chas. H., sk. 273 

men. 405, 429, 464 

Henry C, sk. 273 

Ardelia H., sk. 274, (317. 

443). 

poems, 317, 318 

Job, Jr., 268 

Kimball N.. 270 

Proprietors' accts. fin. set. 65 

Public Lands, set. of. 124. 125. 126 

Library built, 4 65 

Rawson. J. A., sk. 659 

Record, Jonathan, sk. 33, (446, 

496.) 

cent, ser., 177, 381 

death, 420 

David, sk. 33 

Simon, 37, 117 

Lt. Dominicus, sk. 44, (61, 

102). 

death, 123 



Orin, deposition of. 518 

Briggs, 3 

Rev. S. T.. sk. 179 

Arvilla S., letter of, 519 

Ezekiel, 455 

Ricker, Tobias. 107, 381 

Tobias, Jr., 378, 379 

Elder, Geo., 139 

Rich, Joel, sk. 47 

Rider, Capt. John. 76, 78 

Mrs. James, 4 5 

Ripley, Valentine, 386 

Eliphaz, 147. 413 

Roberts, Jonathan, sk. 48, (104, 

107.) 

Jonathan, Jr., 38 

Joseph. Jr., sk. 48, (134). 

Joseph, 48, 667 

Dr. Jacob, sk. 671 

Capt. C. C. sk. 672 

Hamlin M., sk. 672 

Barnabas M., sk. 673 

Dr. Wm. P., sk. 674 

Robinson, Wm., bids. st. boat, 448 

Sampson. Seth, 385 

Sawyer, Helen A., sk. 552 

Saturdays, "Field Days," 255 

School Dists., limits, 120 

to sel. teachers, 122 

Scott, Elder Robt., sk. 171 

Selectmen, to alter co. roads, 117 

Sessions. Orville A.. 415 

Settlers, on pub. lands, law rel. 

to, 21 

Shaw, Jotham. 68 

Isaac, 178 

Milford N., 413 

Joseph C. 386 

I. Wilson, sk. 686 

Small, Rev. A. K. P.. sk. 150 

Albion W., LLD.. sk. 278 

Smith, Seba. sk. 281 

poem, 318 

Elizabeth O., sk. & poem, 

321-2. 

Anna C, sk. & poem, 323 

F. O. J., sk. 282 (453, 500.) 

Prof. Wm. R., 264 

Rev. Henry B., 336 

Jasiel, 381 

Leonard P., 423 

Spaulding, Benj.. sk. 25 

men. 26, 51. 61, 71. 96. 

102, 133. 

death, 124 

Benj., Jr.. sk. 285 

men. 96, 102, 124, 369. 

504. 

Ben., sk. 288 



75S 



HISTORY OF BUCKFIELlJ 



Wm. C. sk. 288 

Atwood W.. sk. 291 

Cyrus C, 453. 462 

Dastine S., 167 

Stephen, set on to B.. 427 

Stephens, Ezra, 97 

Sam'l, 97 

Stetson, Rev. Seth, sk. Ifiu, 384 

men. 472, 473 

"Stocks." not built, 108 

Storer, N. O., 167 

Mrs. X. O.. 167 

"Stowell's Mills," 267 

Swallow, Larnard, 51, 92, 125, 129 

Vinton, k'd at Man. Gap, 414 

Swasey. John P., 405 

Swett, Dea. David, 145 

Sergt. John. 689 

Leonard D., 689 

Dr. Stephen. 689 

Summary cen. 1830, 371 

Sundry persons warned, 116 

Summer, cold, noted, 491 

wet, noted, 482 

warm, noted, 484, 493 

Sun Spots, noted, 478 

Surplus, Rev. dis. 375 

Survey, town and town lines, 61, 

110, 111, 510. 

Taylor, Sam'l, sk. 45, (51) 

Dr. Eben'r, 350 

Elias, 3, 43, 52, 458 

Dr. R. W., 691 

Reunion, 457 

Teague, Banl, 35 

Thayer, Lt. Isaac, sk. 692 

Asa. et als., set off to Paris, 

369. 

Thomas, Sampson. 415 

Thomes, Rev. Geo., sk. 167, (166, 

430). 

Mrs. Josephine, 443 

Samuel. 390, 695 

. Moses 13., 393, 695 

Thorne, Sam'l, 415 

Thurlo, Asa, et als.. sk. 36 

Tilton. Gilbert, sk. & poem, 323 

Town pound, b'll.. Ill 

Tucker. Ruth A., sk. 697 

James H.. 696 

Turner, Dr. Gio. W., sk. 359 



Capt. Jesse, 89. 698 

Rev. Benj. F., , 14 9 

Tyler, Jonathan, sk. 31, (26. 29. 67, 

134). 

Mrs. Rebecca, 32, 51, 76, 133 

Union Chapel built, 160 

dis. of, 161 

"I'ncurrent" money, dis. of, 129, 

130. 

Vining, .\manda Maxim, sk. 308 

poems, 311. 312 

Voters, qualitications of, 117, 119 

Warren, John, sk. 37. (40, 83, 86, 

108). 

David, sk. 46, (368) 

Alphonzo F., 405, 461 

Washingtonian Movement, 384, 

487. 

Waterman. James. 78, 504, 508. 

Ichabod, 140 

Thos. R.. 98, 114 

Widgery, William. 28 

Wilson, Rev. Adam, 142, 1G3, 178 

Winship, Ephraim, 82 

Winters, severe, noted, 490, 493 

mild, noted 

495. 500. 

White, Peter, sk. 

Col. A. D., sk. 

men. 379. 420, 426, 476 

Whittcn, J. W.. 292. 406, 420, 492 

elect, sheriff, 432 

death, 4 61 

^\'inslow, Amos, sk. 716 

Edward C, sk. 716 

Witham, Elder C. C, 169 

Whitman, Jacob, sk. 41 (54) 

death. 378 

Joshua, 

Joshua E., sk. 

Prof. Ozias, sk. 

Izah T., sk. 

Dr. A. C. sk. 

Chas. F.. sk. 

Flora E., sk. & poem, 324 

Pond, 17, 372 

Woodbury, Benj., sk. 717. (88, 120, 

381.) 
Wonderful app. sky noted, 477, 502 
Young, Joshua, sk. 41 

Caleb, sk. 4 9. (371) 



486, 488, 



36 
291 



101, 708 
711 
715 
715 
365 
341 (460) 



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